MEMOIR OF THE LATE PROF. E. HODGKINSON^ F.R.S. 147 



The aim of this paper was greatly extended in the second 

 communication : — 



" Experimental Researches on the Strength of Pillars of 

 Cast Iron from various parts of the Kingdom '^ (read 

 June 1857). 



For the first paper the Council of the Royal Society 

 awarded the gold medal^ as a mark of their appreciation of 

 its practical investigations. 



He was appointed Professor of the Mechanical Principles 

 of Engineering at University College^ London, on the 6th 

 of February, 1847, ^^^ lectured during the sessions of 1847 

 to 1853 inclusive. 



In 1847 lie was appointed a Member of the Royal Com- 

 mission to inquire into the Properties of Wrought and Cast 

 Iron, and their application to Railway Structures. The re- 

 sults of his labours in this important inquiry are given, 

 with marked reference to their magnitude and efficiency, 

 in the Commissioners' Report of 1849. 



He was consulted by the late Robert Stephenson in re- 

 ference to the construction of that great national work, the 

 Tubular Bridge over the Menai Straits. His experience 

 and mathematical knowledge enabled him to suggest and 

 carry out a series of experiments, at the cost of several 

 thousand pounds, with a view to investigate the bearing- 

 properties of wrought-iron riveted tubes, and to satisfy the 

 mind of this great engineer as to the stability and safety of 

 the Britannia and Conway Tubular Bridges. 



He edited an edition of ^ Tredgold on Cast-iron,' to which 

 he added a second volume, giving an account of his own 

 experiments and discoveries; published by Weale, 1846. 



The title of the second volume is, ^ Experimental Re- 

 searches on the Strength and other Properties of Cast Iron, 

 with the development of New Principles, calculations de- 

 duced from them, and inquiries applicable to Rigid and 

 Tenacious Bodies generally.' 



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