vi 



he affords a conspicuous example, in his own line, of the benefits that may 

 be conferred on mankind by rightly directed thought, even when unaided 

 by acquired learning. He followed the religion of his country, without 

 associating himself with theological controversies ; and his numerous acts 

 of charity and benevolence were bestowed with the utmost care that the 

 giver should remain unknown. 



Mr. Appold was afflicted with a painful disease for the last few years of 

 his life, which he bore with heroic fortitude. He was suddenty, however, 

 seized vvith internal haemorrhage at Clifton, when he met his death with 

 that calm resignation which marks the true philosopher. To the honour 

 of the inhabitants of the parish in v/hich he lived, a monument has been 

 erected by them to his memory in the Church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch. 



His election into the Royal Society took place on the 2nd of June, 1853. 



George Boole, by whose death mathematical science has suffered a 

 great loss, was born at Lincoln on the 2nd of November, 1815. His father 

 was a tradesman of very limited means, but held in high esteem by those 

 who knew him. Having nothing to support his family but his daily toil, 

 it was not to be expected that he could expend much on the education of 

 his children ; yet they were not neglected. Being himself a man of 

 thoughtful and studious habits, possessed of an active and ingenious mind, 

 and attached to the pursuit of science, particularly of mathematics, he 

 sought to imbue his children with a love of learning, and employed his 

 leisure hours in imparting to them the elements of education. His son 

 George was sent first to the National School, and afterwards to a private 

 Commercial School, conducted by the late Mr. Thom.as Bainbridge, 

 Lincohi. From his father he received his principal instruction in the 

 rudiments of mathematics, and from him also he inherited a taste for the 

 construction and adaptation of optical instruments. It was not, however, 

 until a comparatively late period of his earlier studies that his special apti- 

 tude for mathematical investigations developed itself. His earlier ambition 

 seems to have pointed to the attainment of proficiency in the ancient 

 classical languages ; but his father being unable to assist him in over- 

 coming the first difficulties of thxis course of study, he was indebted to a 

 neighbouring bookseller (Mr. William Brooke) for instruction in the ele- 

 ments of Latin grammar. To the studj^ of Latin he soon added that of 

 Greek, without any external assistance, and for some years he devoured 

 every Greek and Latin author that came within his reach. 



At the age of sixteen he became an assistant in a school at Doncaster ; 

 subsequently he occupied a similar post at Waddington, a village about 

 four miles from Lincoln. Li these situations, besides prosecuting his 

 studies in the ancient classics, he cultivated an acquaintance with the best 

 English authors, and began to read the German, French, and Italian 

 languages, in all of which he ultimately attained singular proficiency. 



