170 Wilts Obihtary. 



of the chair of mineralogy," says the Times, " was a conspicuous success, 

 and during his term of office he not only practically introduced the 

 study of experimental chemistry into the University, but took an 

 active part in the struggle waged for the establishment of a scientific 

 museum." " But before becoming professor at Oxford he had entered 

 the British Museum . . . had specialized in mineralogy and became 

 one of the leading authorities in England on that class of subjects. He 

 was promoted to be Keeper of the Minerals [1857 — 1880] ... A 

 noble testimony to his labours as the first Keeper of Minerals is the 

 magnificent collection which adorns the Natural History Museum ; 

 assisted only by a small staff" he succeeded in raising that collection to 

 a position of absolute preeminence both as regards excellence of material 

 and tasteful arrangement . , . His singular alertness of mind always led 

 him to attack new problems with particular zest . . . Maskelyne was 

 the first in England to recognize the importance of crystalline symmetry 

 . . . Here, as in everything, he showed himself quick to assimilate the 

 newest views and to be in the first line of advance ... In him we 

 have lost one of the scientific pioneers of the 19th century.'' Nature 

 says, with reference to his scientific papers, "They range over a wide field, 

 and are characterised by a charm of literary style which is well known 

 to all who received letters from him. His activities date from so early 

 a period that it is difficult now to ascertain what personal part he 

 played in some of the scientific discoveries of the middle of the nine- 

 teenth century." " Maskelyne's interests outside science were also 

 very wide, and he was the owner of one of the best and most carefully 

 selected private collections of antique engraved gems." He succeeded 

 to the Basset Down estates in 1879, became Liberal Member forCricklade 

 1880 and for North Wilts 1884. He sat as a Liberal Unionist 1886—92, 

 and remained to the end of his life an active supporter of the 

 Unionist cause. As a member of the County Council from its 

 creation until he was over 80, he was for long chairman of the Agri- 

 cultural Committee, and took a conspicuous part, especially, in the 

 measures for the improvement of dairying in Wiltshire. 



He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, Hon. D.Sc. of Oxford [1903], 

 Hon. Fellow of Wadham College, Wollaston Gold Medallist of the 

 Geological Society [1893], and corresponding member of many foreign 

 mineralogical and geological societies. He was J.P. for Gloucestershire, 

 Brecknock, and Wilts, and in his own neighbourhood was best known 

 not as a great scientist but as an able and earnest worker for the 

 good of the County of Wilts in many ways. He was President 

 of the Wilts Archaeological Society, 1883 — 86, and was always a 

 generous supporter of the Society's work. To the very end of his life 

 he retained his keen grasp of the political and scientific interests of 

 the day. He married, 1858, Theresa, d. of J. Dillwyn Llewellyn, 

 F.R.S., who with his three daughters survives him. 



Long obituary notice in Times, May 22nd, 1911, copied in Wiltshire 

 Gazette, and Wiltshire Times, with portrait, May 27th. A notice of 

 three columns, by " H.A.M.," in Nature, June 1st, 1911, pp. 452, 453, 

 another in Wadharn, College Magazine. 



