ST 
TRANSACTIONS. 
A few words more on Benjamin Martin. By John 
Williams, Assistant- Secretary. 
(Read Oct. Stb, 1862.) 
In the introduction to my description of the Martin micro- 
scope, read at one of the meetings of the Society during the 
last session, I gave some particulars of the life of Benjamin 
Martin, the constructor of that beautiful instrument. I was, 
however, unable to give any account of his early life. Since 
that time I have met with some additional information 
respecting that remarkable man which, although very scanty, 
may still be considered of interest by the Society, as supplying 
a deficiency in the former account. I have, therefore, with 
your permission, to call your attention to "A few words 
more on Benjamin Martin.^' 
Since my last communication I have ascertained that 
Benjamin Martin was born of poor but well-conducted 
parents, at Worplesdon, a small town or village between 
Guildford and Woking, in Surrey, in the year 1704. He 
commenced his career in that neighbourhood at a very early 
age, as a ploughboy. Having a strong desire to acquire 
knowledge, and being gifted with extraordinary perseverance, 
he succeeded, by unremitting application, in teaching himself 
reading, writing, and arithmetic, and acquired such profi- 
ciency that he was able to undertake the instruction of others 
in those useful and necessary arts. Having also a strong 
inclination towards mathematical and philosophical specula- 
tions, after a while he abandoned husbandry, and, devoting 
himself to more congenial pursuits, persevered in such a 
course of reading and study as, in a great measure, compen- 
sated for the want of original education. How he supported 
himself during this time is not clear, but it was pos- 
sibly by teaching, and he appears to have first employed him- 
self in this way at Guildford. About 1735 he settled, as a 
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