JAMES SHANKS 205 



enthusiasm in everything he took up. When 

 he returned from the University, he brought 

 with him some of his master's spirit, and in 

 connection with the Mechanics' Institute at 

 Johnstone, he used to give scientific lectures, 

 always to crowded audiences. Whether it 

 was that chemistry had greater attractions for 

 him than medicine, or whether the pecuniary 

 advantages which the career of a chemical 

 manufacturer appeared to present to him 

 were greater, we know not, but he decided to 

 abandon his profession and started a small 

 Chemical Works in Paisley, where he manu- 

 factured Alum and Chromate of Potash. 

 This early venture was not a success, and 

 Paisley was left ; a situation was accepted at 

 Worcester, where he remained only a very 

 short time, taking another appointment at 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne. His force of character, 

 intelligence and shrewd common sense, as 

 well as his scientific attainments, were not 

 long in being discovered, and in 1836, when 

 William Gossage was bringing out his 

 valuable inventions, he needed thoroughly 

 capable and intelligent men to erect the plant 

 and carry out the processes he designed. 

 Two of these that Gossage selected were 

 Shanks and Elliott. Elliott afterwards became 



