8 A Yorkshire Rector of the Eighteenth Century. 



breadth and originality of mind, he attacked from his own 

 point of view the problems that presented themselves for his 

 consideration, ever striving to gain a personal acquaintance 

 with the underlying facts, and where these were susceptible 

 of experimental treatment, devising ingenious pieces of appar- 

 atus for their special investigation. He was thus both a 

 student and a discoverer, and on every department of science 

 in which he worked he left the impress of his originality. 



Already, while he was still an undergraduate at Cambridge, 

 his scientific studies had taken practical form. His rooms at 

 Queen's College must have often looked like a workshop, for 

 he was a true experimental philosopher, resolved from the 

 beginning to bring theory, where possible, to the test of actual 

 experiment, and designing and constructing with his own 

 hands the pieces of mechanism that were needed in the course 

 of his investigations. One of the researches on which he was 

 engaged in these College days related to the nature of Magnetism 

 and the production of artificial magnets. The little volume 

 which gave his account of this enquiry appeared in the spring 

 of 1750. At the same time he must have been in the habit 

 of making excursions in many directions across the south of 

 England ; thereby acquiring that intimate and accurate 

 knowledge of the geological structure of the country which is 

 conspicuous in his essay on Earthquakes published in 1760. 



A contemporary at Cambridge has left a brief description 

 of his personal appearance and reputation, as he lived and 

 moved during his College life : — ' John Michell, B.D., is a little 

 short man, of a black complexion, and fat. I think he had the 

 care of St. Botolph's Church, while he continued Fellow of 

 Queen's College, where he was esteemed a very ingenious 

 Man and an excellent philosopher. He has published some 

 things in that way, on the Magnet and Electricity.'* 



Before he left Cambridge Michell's name was known far 

 beyond the circles of the University His investigations in 

 magnetism had attracted attention, and his scientific reputation 

 was greatly increased by the remarkable paper on Earth- 

 quakes. Before that paper had been completely read at 

 successive meetings of the Royal Society, he was proposed as 

 a Fellow, and was duly elected on 12th June, 1760. It is 

 worthy of mention that in the roll of membership of the Royal 

 Society the name of John Michell immediately succeeds that 

 of Henry Cavendish. When the Woodwardian Professorship 

 of Geology at Cambridge fell vacant in 1762, it was eminently 

 appropriate that this distinguished Fellow of Queen's should 

 receive the appointment. He was probably the most promising 

 man of science at that time at the University. 



* Cole, MSS. xxxiii., p. 156 (Add. MSS. Mus. Brit. 5843). 



Naturalist, 



