xxvin 



able to devote a great part of his attention to other than the usnnl 

 studies. He once told the writer of this notice how as an under- 

 graduate he read Electricity to fill up his time, though the subject 

 did not then enter into the Tripos Examination List. 



In the same yeai in which he took his degree he gained the 

 Burney Prize. According to the regulations, this prize is to be 

 awarded to a graduate of the University who is not of more than 

 three years' standing from admission to his first degree, and who 

 shall produce the best English Essay " on some Moral or Metaphy- 

 sical subject, on the Existence, Nature, and Attributes of God, or on 

 the Truth and Evidence of the Christian Religion." His essay was 

 printed in 1849 under the title " The Doctrine of a Divine Providence 

 is inseparable from the belief in the existence of an absolutely 

 perfect Creator." These headings are mentioned here to show how 

 widely he was accustomed to spread his studies. 



Soon after his degree he established himself in his college as a 

 mathematical tutor, and then acquired a great reputation for his 

 skill as a teacher. Afterwards when new arrangements were made at 

 St. John's College he was appointed Principal Lecturer, and was 

 expected to devote his teaching powers chiefly to the service of his 

 college. Soon after this he vacated his fellowship by marriage, and 

 following the rules of the college he retired from his position at the 

 head of the staff of lecturers. He continued, however, to lecture for 

 some years, but gradually he turned his attention more and more to 

 the work of writing books. Finally he gave np all share in the 

 tuition of his college, and devoted himself to those labours by the 

 results of which he is best known. 



Dr. Todhunter also spent much of his time as an Examiner. He 

 was Examiner for the University of London for the five years ending 

 1869. He examined for the Indian Civil Service Commissioners more 

 than once. He was Senior Moderator in 1865 and Senior Examiner 

 in the following year, but though asked several times to examine 

 again he always declined, declaring that the work was so onerous 

 that it took up too much of his time. This is an opinion held by 

 many other distinguished mathematicians who have examined once. 

 At the same time this circumstance illustrates the care and patience 

 usually given to the preparation of examination papers. He also 

 examined for the Smith's Prize. But the Mathematical Tripos did 

 not alone obtain his attention, he also examined for the Moral 

 Sciences Tripos in the three years 1863, 1864, and 1865. 



He was a member of many learned Societies. He became a Fellow 

 of the Royal Society in 1862, and served on the Council during the 

 years 1871-1873. He was elected a member of the Mathematical 

 Society of London in 1865, the first year of its existence. He was 

 also a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. 



