468 
Jn /IDemonam. 
WTLLIAM ACKPwOYD, F.I.C., F.C.S. 
Bo7'n March Srd, 1852. 
Died May dth, 1905. 
By the sudden death of William Ackroyd the Yorkshire 
Geological Society has lost a devoted scientific worker, and our 
Council one of its most genial and energetic members. Though 
devoted to his own particular branches of science, chemistry 
and physics, he found so many interesting avenues of research 
opening out in this direction and that through the goodly realm 
of geology, that he became more enthusiastic than many geologists 
in pursuing lines of special investigation which threw additional 
light on many important earth problems. 
From a boy he showed an aptitude for science, and his 
love for chemistry and physics began early. On leaving school 
he entered as a student at the Royal School of Science, 
South Kensington, where he remained for five years, pur- 
suing his studies with true scientific enthusiasm. On his 
return to Sowerby Bridge, his native town, he commenced 
business as a chemist and analyst. Subsequently he removed 
to Halifax, where he opened a laboratory as a consulting analyst, 
and became teacher of chemistry at the Higher Board School. 
On the opening of the Technical School he became head of the 
chemistry department. In March, 1886, he was appointed 
Borough Analyst for Halifax, which position he held up to the 
time of his death. In addition to his professional duties he ever 
kept a mind open to the advance of scientific knowledge, and 
pursued new lines of thought and research from time to time 
wdth a careful grasp of the essential facts, united with a bold 
and vigorous imaginative theorising. 
As a Fellow of the Physical Society, the Chemical Society, and 
the Institute of Chemistry, he wrote and published many papers 
which expressed his views in an original and suggestive manner, 
and his presence at the British Association Meetings from year 
to year was not only a keen personal delight to himself, but was 
