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XXVIII. — Memoir ofDv Thomas Chaeles Hope, late Professor of Chemistry in the 

 University of Edinburgh . By Thomas Stewart Traill, M.D., F.R.S.E., Pro- 

 fessor of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Edinburgh. 



(Read December 6, 1847.) 



It is presumed that a notice of the life and labours of one, who was, for 

 more than fifty years, a most skilful and successful teacher of chemistry in the 

 Universities of Scotland, where he was the instructor of more than 15,500 pupils ; 

 who initiated in that interesting science many who now hear me ; who long filled 

 the office of vice-president amongst us, will not be unacceptable to the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh.' 



Thomas Charles Hope was a son of Dr John Hope, the first Regius Professor 

 of Botany in the University of Edinburgh, and of Juliana Stevenson, daughter 

 of an eminent physician in that city. 



Professor John Hope was a grandson of Lord Rankeillor, an eminent Scottish 

 judge in the early part of the last century, and son to Mr Robert Hope, a respect- 

 able surgeon in Edinburgh. Professor Hope died in 1786, at the age of 62. 

 His family consisted of four sons and a daughter. Robert, the eldest, was bred 

 to the bar, but died in early life ; Marianne married James Walker, Esq., of 

 Dairy, and died in 1837, leaving an only daughter, who became the wife of Sir 

 John Wall ; John, a Major in the army, who died in 1840 ; Thomas Charles, the 

 subject of this memoir, who was born on the 21st of July 1766, and died on the 

 13th of June 1844 ; Jajies, a wi-iter to the Signet, who died in 1842, leaving several 

 children. 



Thomas Charles, the third son of Dr John Hope, received the elements of 

 his classical education in the High School of Edinburgh, to which he was sent in 

 1772; but in 1778 he was removed to a school at Dumfries, and Avas, 1779, 

 entered as a student of general literature in this University, at the early age of 

 thirteen ; a practice stiU too common in this country. There he pursued the 

 usual curriculum of general study, before he began to apply to medicine. 



As was natural, he had devoted much attention to Botany, and, under his 

 able father, had made such proficiency, that on the death of the latter in 1786, 

 he aspired to the Botanical Chair ; and, though supported by the influence of Sir 

 Joseph Banks, Sir George Baker, and even by the favour of Royalty, the all- 

 powerful influence of Mr Dundas prevailed, and he was unsuccessful. In June 

 l787, he obtained the degree of Doctor in Medicine at our University. Dr Irvine, 

 who held the Lectureship of Chemistry in the University of Glasgow, having 

 died in the following month, Dr Hope was appointed to fill the vacant chair, on 



VOL. XVI. PART IV. 5 



