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IN MEMORIAM—DAVID ROBERTSON. 37 
In 1895 the University of Glasgow conferred on him the 
honorary degree of LL.D., in recognition of his eminent attain- 
ments as a naturalist. 
Tn the case of not a few men, engrossing studies seem to have 
the effect of inducing habits of isolation and exclusiveness which 
tend to check the flow of the benevolent sympathies. But it was 
not so with Robertson. He desired that the study of marine 
zoology, which had yielded himself an endless round of the purest 
pleasures, should also be taken up by the inhabitants of Millport, 
as well as by the visitors who flock thither during the summer 
months. With this end in view, he exhibited portions of his 
collections in the public halls at various times, and read explanatory 
papers, written by himself in a style fitted to awaken popular 
interest in the subjects to which they related. As already 
indicated, he took an active interest in promoting the establishment 
of a Marine Biological Station at Millport, and had promised to 
its museum the greater part of his own unrivalled collections. 
He lived to see the approximate fulfilment, if not the complete 
realisation, of this cherished scheme. 
Encouraged by the success which had attended the opening of 
the Ark as a temporary station, he aimed at the erection and 
endowment of a building in all respects suited to the requirements 
of marine research. Mainly through his own personal efforts, 
an influential committee was appointed to raise the funds and 
make the arrangements necessary for carrying the scheme into 
effect. A free grant of a site on the shore near Keppel Pier has 
been obtained from the Marquis of Bute, and on this has been 
erected a handsome structure of red sandstone, which is now 
approaching completion. The first sod was cut by Mr. Robertson 
on 7th August, 1896, and on 17th October the foundation-stone 
of the building was laid by Dr. Thomas Reid, LL.D. Much to 
Mr. Robertson’s regret, he was prevented by illness from being 
present at the ceremony. 
From this attack of illness he never recovered. After lingering 
five weeks, during which his resources of strength were gradually 
exhausted, his death took place on the evening of Friday, 20th 
November. 
On Tuesday, 24th November, his remains were interred in the 
cemetery adjoining Cumbrae Cathedral, where the burial service 
