xii Obituary Notices of Fellows deceased. 



happy one, but unfortunately they had no children. Mrs. Galton died at 

 Koyat in 1897, after a long period of ill-health. After her death one of her 

 nephews lived with Galton for a time, and subsequently one of his own 

 great-nieces was his companion up to his death. 



After his African journey Galton was regarded as amongst the leading 

 explorers of his time, and he played an important part in the work of the 

 Eoyal Geographical Society during many years, indeed until increasing 

 deafness prevented him from being a useful member of the Council. He 

 was elected a Fellow of the Eoyal Society in 1856, and often served also on 

 the Council of that body. 



Whilst in Africa he had been struck by the waste of energy incurred by 

 the fact that every explorer has to learn by bitter experience the numerous 

 devices required for his safety and comfort, and he thought that much of 

 this waste might be obviated if the experiences of travellers could be 

 shortly set forth. He accordingly conceived the idea of collecting hints for 

 travellers derived not only from his own experience in Africa, but also from 

 that of others in widely different latitudes. The result was a small book 

 published in 1855 entitled ' The Art of Travel.' It has since been through 

 several editions and is a valuable vade-mecum for the explorer. It is much 

 more than a dictionary of artifices to be employed in emergencies, and the 

 present writer has found it very interesting reading. 



After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Galton settled in London, ultimately at 

 42, Eutland Gate, Hyde Park, and went much into Society, especially in 

 literary and scientific circles. His powers as a conversationalist and ready 

 humour, seconded by Mrs. Galton's sympathetic nature, rendered them 

 charming hosts and they were universally popular. 



The African journey had tried Galton's health severely, and he reluctantly 

 felt himself compelled to forego further exploration, but he and his wife 

 travelled extensively in Europe, and he became an enthusiastic mountaineer 

 and member of the Alpine Club. There remains but little more to be 

 recounted as to the social side of his life. He gradually became very deaf, 

 and this cut him off much from the enjoyment of general society, but only 

 in the last year of his life he learned of the existence of a microphonic form 

 of ear-trumpet which restored his power of hearing to a marvellous extent 

 and contributed greatly to his pleasure. During the last four or five years 

 he became very infirm in body, although his intellect remained as bright as 

 ever. 



A portrait in water-colour, by 0. Oakley, of Galton at the age of 22, and 

 another in oil in later life by C. W. Furse, are in the possession of his 

 nephew Edward Galton Wheler at Claverdon Leys, Warwick. A copy of the 

 latter by F. W. Carter hangs in the Hall at Trinity College, Cambridge. 

 There is a bronze bust of him dated about 1909, and executed by Sir George 

 Frampton, at University College, London. 



In 1908 he published an amusing and interesting account of his 

 experiences entitled 'Memories of my Life,' which has served to furnish 



