JOSEPH PRESTWICH. 1 



By H. B. Woodward. 2 



Among the more distinguished of the second generation of British 

 geologists — a band comprising such men as Godwin- Austen, Falconer, 

 Morris, Edward Forbes, Egerton, Jukes, Ramsay, and Daniel Sharpe — 

 the subject of our present memoir has long outlived each one of them, 

 aud the close of his life, at the advanced age of 84, severs the most 

 prominent link which connected the geologists of the present day with 

 the old masters. 



Joseph Prestwich was born at Pensbury, Clapham, oil March 12, 

 1812, aud was descended from an old Lancashire family. One of his 

 ancestors, Sir Joseph Prestwich, Bart., was an active fellow of the 

 Society of Antiquaries, and a manuscript written by him about the 

 year 1798, dealing with tlie subject of earthquakes, was published by 

 Joseph Prestwich in the Geological Magazine for 1870. At one time 

 Prestwich entertained the idea of claiming the baronetcy, which his 

 father had declined to take up, but, owing to the loss of documents, 

 this intention was abandoned. 



Receiving his early education partly in London, partly in Paris at a 

 school attached to the College Bourbon, and partly under the famous 

 Dr. Valpy at Reading, Joseph Prestwich completed his studies at 

 University College, London. There he learned chemistry under Dr. 

 Turner and natural philosophy under Dr. Lardner, and he gained 

 some acquaintance with mineralogy and geology from a few lectures 

 included in his course by the professor of chemistry. That he had a 

 leaning toward experimental science was evident, for he subsequently 

 formed a laboratory, which he maintained until about the year 1860. 

 His own tastes would have prompted him to adopt a profession, but 

 circumstances caused him to enter his father's business of wine mer- 

 chant, and in this he was closely occupied for about forty years, until 

 1872, when he retired from his office in Mark Lane. 



1 From Natural Science, Loudon, Vol. IX, 1896, pp. 89-98. 



-For sonic particulars relating to Sir J. Prestwich we arc indebted to an article 

 printed in the Biograph for Decemher, 1881, and reprinted with additions and revi- 

 sions in the Geological Magazine for June, 1893. 



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