Xll 



an idea of the pecuniary help received from him by some of his 

 fellow- workers. In local affairs his interest and benevolence in the 

 educational and charitable institutions of the parish of Lewisham are 

 now, alas ! matters of history. 



For more than two years before his death his friends noticed with 

 concern that his health was visibly and seriously impaired. A severe 

 attack of eczema was followed by chorea, and this by severe gastric 

 disturbance. About a year ago, indications of cancer of the stomach 

 showed themselves, and became more and more confirmed. His ill- 

 ness was painless, but the great weakness constantly increased, as 

 did his inability to retain or assimilate nourishment, and he passed 

 peacefully away, in full possession of his mental faculties to the 

 last. 



In 1846 he married Isabel, the youngest daughter of Thomas Dunn, 

 Esq., of Sheffield, but had no family. She survives him, and was his 

 constant companion in all his work, travels, and excursions, and his 

 devoted attendant during his long illness. 



R. McL. 



*" THOMAS ARCHER HIRST, the third and youngest son of Mr. Thomas 

 Hirst, a wool- stapler, was born at Heckmondwike, in Yorkshire, on 

 22nd April, 1830. He was educated at the West Riding Proprietary 

 School ; and, in 1844 he became an articled pupil of a surveyor at 

 Halifax. It was in this office that he made the acquaintance of John 

 Tyndall, who became a life- long friend of Hirst, and exercised a deep 

 influence on his scientific career; and, in particular, it was the 

 example of Tyndall which led him to give up the pursuit of the 

 profession at first chosen for him. Tyndall had left England to 

 study chemistry, under Bunsen, at Marburg ; and thither Hirst 

 followed him, in 1849, to study mathematics, physics, and chemistry. 

 After three years at that University he obtained the degree of Ph.D., 

 on examination in his three subjects and an approved dissertation in 

 analytical geometry. Subsequently, a short time was spent in 

 Gottingen with Gauss and Weber, and then he went to Berlin where 

 he attended lectures by Dirichlet, Steiner, and Joachimsthal. His 

 intercourse with Steiner did much to determine the ultimate bent of 

 his mathematical investigations ; but some years elapsed before it was 

 fully indicated, as the majority of his earlier papers are devoted to 

 researches in mathematical physics. 



He succeeded Tyndall, at Queenwood, in 1853, on the appointment 

 of the latter at the Royal Institution ; but this post was resigned in 

 1856 on account of the delicate health of his wife, whom he had 

 married in 1854. The succeeding winter was spent at Biarritz and 

 Pau, but without permanent good- results, as Mrs. Hirst died in 

 Paris, in 1857. Tyndall took him to Switzerland for six weeks, 



