SCIENTISTS OF NORTH LANCASHIRE AND VICINITY 149 



lead ore. ' Pattinson's Process,' as it is now known, was a valuable discovery 

 permitting the working of previously neglected lead mines. Also discovered 

 a simple method of obtaining white lead which led to the discovery of oxy- 

 chloride of lead ; and a new process for manufacturing ' magnesia alba.' 

 Vice-President of Section B (Chemistry) in 1838. F.R.S., 1852. Died near 

 Gateshead. 



PEARSON, Dr. Wm., F.R.S. (1767-1847), b. Whitbeck. Educated at Hawk- 

 head Grammar School, took orders, and went to live in Lincoln, where he 

 constructed an astronomical clock and an orrery. In 1820, having moved to 

 East Sheen and established an observatory there, he measured the diameters 

 of the sun and the moon during a partial solar eclipse. It was mainly due to 

 his influence that the Astronomical Society was founded (1820). F.R.S., 

 1829. In 1824 and 1829 published two quarto volumes of Introduction to 

 Practical Astronomy, said, by Sir John Herschel, to be ' one of the most 

 important and extensive works on the subject that has ever issued from the 

 press.' 



Perry, Father Stephen Joseph, S.J., F.R.S. (1833-1889), b. London. The 

 son of a manufacturer. Educated in London, Rome and Paris. Seven years 

 after entering the Society of Jesus became Professor of Mathematics and 

 Director of the Observatory at Stonyhurst (1860). His public scientific career 

 began with magnetic surveys of France and Belgium, which brought him 

 Fellowship of the Royal Society (1874). His services on astronomical 

 expeditions to various parts of the world became indispensable and he under- 

 took several of these on behalf of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical 

 Society. He died on an expedition to photograph an eclipse of the sun, and 

 was buried at Demerara. 



Rawlinson, Christopher (1677-1733), b. Springfield, Essex. Second son 

 of C. Rawlinson, of Carke Hall, Lanes. He devoted most of his time to Anglo- 

 Saxon studies, but made valuable collections for a history of Lancashire, 

 Cumberland and Westmorland. When he died (in London) his MSS. were 

 sold for a few pence, with some furniture, and disappeared, but copies had 

 been made of those relating to Westmorland and were used by Nicolson and 

 Burn in their Westmorland and Cumberland. 



SHAW, Rev. Thos. , F.R.S. (1 694- 1 75 1 ), b. Kendal. Son of a shearman dyer. 

 Educated Kendal Grammar School and Queen's College, Oxford. While 

 Chaplain to an English factory in Algiers he made a series of expeditions to 

 Egypt, Cyprus, Asia Minor and ' the interior of Barbary.' Vicar of Godshill, 

 Isle of Wight, 1734. Elected F.R.S., 1734, for A Geographical description of 

 the kSn8d om °f Tunis. He also wrote Travels and observations relating to 

 several parts of Barbary and the Levant, which was valued for its descriptions 

 of natural history, botany and geology. Died Bromley, where he was Vicar, 

 after a period as Professor of Greek at Edmund Hall. 



SlBSON, Dr. Francis, F.R.S. (1814-1876), b. Cross Canonby, Cumberland. 

 Studied medicine at Edinburgh and, after a short practice in Cockermouth, at 

 Guy's Hospital. Surgeon to Nottingham General Hospital, 1835-48. F.R.S., 

 1849, after which he remained in London. Physician to St. Mary's Hospital. 

 As member of Senate of London University, opposed admission of women to 

 its degrees. Published important papers on changes of internal organs, 



