MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 47 



community to which they belonged. Her second son. 

 George, after receiving a medical education, succeeded 

 to his father's business — in which, after it had 

 become " Thompson & Capper," his second son, Isaac, 

 eventually became a partner. The ancestry thus shows 

 considerable scientific and medical tendencies through 

 several generations. 



Isaac Cooke Thompson was descended from old 

 Quaker families on both sides, and has been closely con- 

 nected with Liverpool by business, social, and scientific 

 ties during the last sixty years. He was born on the 

 27th July, 1843, at Elm Cottage, a quaint old house 

 which, with its garden and aged mulberry trees, then on 

 the outskirts of Liverpool, has long since been swept away 

 by the inroads of bricks and mortar. When his paternal 

 grandfather, Thomas Thompson, came from London am. 

 started the business of chemist and druggist just below 

 what is now the Pro-Cathedral in Church Street, it was 

 thought to be too far from the centre of the town. 



Thomas Thompson is described as being an interesting 

 man, with antiquarian tastes. He and the maternal 

 grandfather, Isaac Cooke, of West Derby, who was for 

 long head of the Liverpool firm of cotton brokers, " Isaac 

 Cooke & Sons," were both members of the Society of 

 Friends, in which thev occupied leading positions. Their 

 respective son and daughter, George and Eliza Thompson, 

 both had marked ability and showed intellectual tastes. 

 Simplicity of life is said to have been one of the chief 

 characteristics of the home, and the children were 

 encouraged in their love of outdoor life, rambles in the 

 woods and fern collecting being amongst their chief 

 delights. Isaac was the third of six, and they are 

 described as being all high-spirited, fond of adventure, 

 and at times mischievous, but perfectly truthful and 



