925.5 89 



Joseph Prestwich, 



AMONG the more distinguished of the second generation of British 

 geologists — a band comprising such men as Godwin-Austen, 

 Falconer, Morris, Edward Forbes, Egerton, Jukes, Ramsay, and 

 Daniel Sharpe — the subject of our present memoir has long outlived 

 each one of them, and the close of his life, at the advanced age of 84, 

 severs the most prominent link which connected the geologists of the 

 present day with the Old Masters. 



Joseph Prestwich was born at Pensbury, Clapham, on March 12, 

 1812, and was descended from an old Lancashire family. One of his 

 ancestors. Sir Joseph Prestwich, Bart., was an active Fellow of the 

 Society of Antiquaries, and a manuscript written by him about the 

 year 1798, dealing with the subject of earthquakes, was published by 

 Joseph Prestwich in the Geological Magazine for 1870. At one time 

 Prestwich entertained the idea of claiming the baronetcy, which his 

 father had declined to take up, but owing to the loss of documents 

 this intention was abandoned. 



Receiving his early education partly in London, partly in Paris 

 at a school attached to the College Bourbon, and partly under the 

 famous Dr. Valpy at Reading, Joseph Prestwich completed his 

 studies at University College, London. There he learnt chemistry 

 under Dr. Turner, and natural philosophy under Dr. Lardner ; and 

 he gained some acquaintance with mineralogy and geology from a few 

 lectures included in his course by the Professor of Chemistry. That 

 he had a leaning towards experimental science was evident, for he 

 subsequently formed a laboratory, which he maintained until about 

 the year i860. His own tastes would have prompted him to adopt a 

 profession, but circumstances caused him to enter his father's business 

 of wine merchant, and in this he was closely occupied for about forty 

 years until 1872, when he retired from his office in Mark Lane. 



The brief introduction to geological science Avhich Dr. Turner 

 had given, was destined to bear the most excellent fruit. Prestwich 

 was thus led to examine the collections of fossils in the British 



1 For some particulars relating to Sir J. Prestwich we are indebted to an article 

 printed in the Biograph for December, 1881, and reprinted with additions and re- 

 visions in the Geological Magazine for June, 1S93. 



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