318 ObitiuM'y Notices of Fellows deceased. 



man there was behind it; unless the sight was perfect, good firing 

 could not be made. The great stride made by the British Navy lately 

 in that direction was entirely due to Dr. Common. He had combined 

 the great knowledge of optics, which had made him a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society, with practical application, and produced a telescope gun- 

 sight which would, when properly used, quadruple the fighting efficiency 

 of our battleships." 



Common was elected a Fellow of this Society in 1885, and served 

 on its Council in the years 1893-5. He was Treasurer of the 

 Eoyal Astronomical Society from 1884 to 1895, when he was made 

 President. He received the Honorary degree of LL.D. from the 

 University of St. Andrews in 1892. 



He died very suddenly on the morning of June 2, 1903, from heart 

 failure, while sitting writing in his study at 63, Eaton Rise, Ealing. 

 He leaves a widow, one son, and three daughters. 



H. H. T. 



