Volume V 
OCTOBER, 1906 
No. 1 
BIOMETEIKA. 
WALTER FRANK RAPHAEL WELDON. 1860-1906.* 
I. Apologia. 
It is difficult to express adequately the great loss to science, the terrible blow 
to biometry, which results from the sudden death during the Easter vacation of the 
joint founder and co-editor of this journal. The difficulty of adequate expression 
is the greater, because so much of Weldon's influence and work were of a personal 
character, which only those who have enjoyed his close friendship can estimate, and 
which will only to some extent be understood should it ever be possible to publish 
his scientific correspondence. That correspondence is not only the most complete 
record of the development of the biometric conceptions, but the amplest witness 
to Weldon's width of knowledge, keenness of intellectual activity, and intense love 
of truth. It is marked by an extreme generosity to both friend and foe, which is 
not in the least incompatible with the use of frankly — perhaps it would be better 
to say playfully — strong language whenever the writer suspected unfair dealing, 
self-advertisement, or slipshod reasoning masquerading as science. Any form of 
publicity was very distasteful to Weldon ; in particular he had a strong dislike 
for all forms of personal biography. The knowledge of this makes the writing 
of the present notice a peculiarly hard task. Yet Weldon's influence and activity 
must always be associated with the early history of biometry ; if there be anything 
which can effectively aid younger workers in this field, it must be to realise 
that at least one man of marked ability and of the keenest scientific enthusiasm 
has devoted the most fertile years of his life to this new branch of science. 
Weldon's history is not written in a long series of published memoirs ; much of his 
best work was unfinished at his death, and we can only trust that it will eventually 
be completed as the truest memorial to his life. But science, no less than theology 
or philosophy, is the field for personal influence, for the creation of enthusiasm, and, 
for the establishment of ideals of self-discipline and self-development. No man 
becomes great in science from the mere force of intellect, unguided and unaccom- 
panied by what really amounts to moral force. Behind the intellectual capacity 
* I have gratefully to acknowledge much aid from Mr A. E. Shipley in the preparation of certain 
parts of this memoir. K. P. 
Biometrika v 1 
