xxxvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION 



The life work of Sir Henry Gilbert will chiefly be found in 

 the published reports of the Rothamsted investigations, which, 

 at the time of his death, had reached ten volumes ; the subjects 

 of these investigations will be briefly noticed at the close of 

 this biography. His work, however, frequently extended beyond 

 the sphere of the Rothamsted Experiments. He was Mr 

 Lawes' scientific adviser, and as such he played an active part 

 in the trials wdiich took place in the Law Courts respecting the 

 alleged infringement of Mr Lawes' patent. He made reports 

 on deposits of phosphates at home and abroad. He 

 superintended the experiments relating to the disposal of 

 sewage at the time when Mr Lawes was a member of the 

 Royal Commission of 1857. Other important undertakings will 

 be mentioned presently. 



Dr Gilbert was married in 1850 to Eliza Laurie, daughter 

 of the Rev. G. Laurie. His wife died in 1853. He married a 

 second time, in 1855, Maria Smith, who survives him. Sir 

 Henry Gilbert owed much to his second wife's untiring assist- 

 ance. The feeble condition of his eyesight obliged him to rely 

 a good deal on clerical help. Both foreign and English papers 

 were read to him by Lady Gilbert, while the greater [Mvt of his 

 own work was dictated to an amanuensis. His great pluck 

 and determination, with the assistance thus rendered, enabled 

 him to accompHsh a very large amount of work notwithstanding 

 the serious difficulties under which he laboured. 



Sir Henry Gilbert was an active member of many scientific 

 societies, a regular attendant at their meetings, and a member 

 of many scientific committees. The Rothamsted investigations 

 undoubtedly gained by the intercourse thus obtained with other 

 investigators, though the time occupied by visits to London 

 was often considerable. Sir Henry Gilbert was elected a 

 Fellow of the Royal Society in 1860. He was the author, with 

 Sir John Lawes, of seven papers in the Philosophical Trans- 

 actions. In 1867 he received, with Sir John Lawes, one of 

 the Royal medals for the work done at Rothamsted. He 

 served on the Council in 1886-8. Sir Henry Gilbert joined the 



