496 



study of natural history, although his only publication on the 

 subject was an elementary one, a Familiar History of British Birds, 

 intended for the use of young persons. He was for many years Pre- 

 sident of the Linnsean Society, and was also an active Member of 

 the British Association. He was elected an Honorary Member of 

 the Academy in 1836. 



Dr. Clanny was a native of the county Down. He served as an 

 assistant surgeon in the British navy, and was present in the battle 

 of Copenhagen, under Lord Nelson. He settled for a short time at 

 Durham, but afterwards removed to Bishopvearraonth, where he 

 practised as a physician for forty-five years. Living in a coal dis- 

 trict, where fatal explosions in the mines were frequent, his attention 

 was turned to the best mode of preventing such accidents ; and he 

 produced in 1813 his well-known safety lamp, the first attempt to 

 produce a lamp capable of burning without danger in an explosive 

 atmosphere, an account of which was published soon after in the 

 Philosophical Transactions. For this invention, which appears to 

 have been prior by two years to the similar lamp of Sir Humphrey 

 Davy, Dr. Clanny was rewarded with the gold and silver medals of 

 the Society of Arts ; and in the beginning of the year 1848, a num- 

 ber of gentlemen interested in coal mines, headed by the Marquis of 

 Londonderry, presented him with a piece of plate and a purse of 

 gold, as an acknowledgment of his valuable services. 



Dr. Clanny was the author of many professional works, and 

 papers in the Transactions of learned societies. He died 10th 

 January, 1850. 



The ordinary Members deceased during the past year are the 

 following : 



George Carr, Esq., died in May, 1849. He was elected a Member 

 of the Academy March 16th, 1836; and although he was never on 

 the Council, and took no part in the scientific or literary proceedings 

 of the Academy, yet it will be in the recollection of many Members 

 that Ml-. Carr was always ready and active whenever any subscrip- 

 tion was set on foot for the purchase of antiquities, or the preserva- 

 tion of our ancient literature; and tliat to him we are indebted for 

 many valuable additions made in this way to the Museum. 



