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conferred on him its highest honour by electing him to the Presi- 

 dential Chair. At the meeting at Plymouth in 1877, his calm, far- 

 seeing, and philosophical address on his favourite topic, " The De- 

 velopment of the Forms of Animal Life," was a masterly history of 

 the gradual acceptance of the doctrines connected with the name of 

 Darwin, whose important generalisations his open and receptive mind 

 had long before accepted. In 1871 Dr. Allen Thomson received from 

 his university the degree of LL.D., a degree which was also conferred 

 upon him by the Glasgow University in 1877. 



In 1882 he received the degree of D.C.L. from the University of 

 Oxford ; and latterly he was elected to at least one Syndicate of the 

 University of Cambridge to assist in the election of professors to the 

 Biological Chairs. Whilst thus pursuing a purely and steadfast scientfic 

 career, Dr. Allen Thomson was well known as one of the most active 

 and influential men in the city of Glasgow. 



The friendly hand that wrote the obituary notice in the ' Glasgow 

 Herald,' from which much of this memoir lias been compiled, has 

 given the following characteristic word picture of Dr. Allen Thomson : 

 — " He took a deep interest in almost all departments of science. He 

 was a ready listener, and always delighted to hear an account of anew 

 investigation. Eager in the pursuit of truth himself, he, above all 

 things, demanded accuracy. He was critical on all questions, and it 

 required a great deal of fact and argument to lead him to a change of 

 scientific opinion. Yet his mind was open and receptive, and he did 

 not shrink from a change of view although it went against his precon- 

 ceived notions. His own writings are models of clearness of state- 

 ment and skilful marshalling of facts. Dr. Allen Thomson's mode of 

 teaching was of the same character. Method, order, precision of 

 statement, and close reasoning shone in every lecture ; while there 

 was also the persuasive eloquence of a great enthusiasm which capti- 

 vated the listener." 



As a teacher he was equalled by few and surpassed by none of the 

 many colleagues amongst whom he taught. His education and sur- 

 roundings made him a teacher, and to that work he bent all his 

 energies. Those only who have been associated with him as demon- 

 strators of anatomy in his dissecting rooms in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, 

 and Glasgow, can appreciate the daily labours he went through in 

 preparing and arranging the material for his lectures and demonstra- 

 tions. Personally he was much beloved by his students, who are 

 generally remarkable for devotion to a teacher who takes pains to 

 teach as he did. " In the social circle there was much gentleness and 

 simplicity of manner, along with a keen sense of humour, while his 

 domestic life throughout was characterised by a quiet kindliness, and 

 that chivalrous attention to little details of personal courtesy which 

 mark the true gentleman." 



