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5n /IDemortain, 
THOMAS HICK, B.A., B.SC. (lOND.), A.L.S. 
Born May 5th, 1840; Died July 31st, 1896. 
Only a few months ago we chronicled the decease of a great 
Yorkshire Paloeohotanist ; to-day, alas ! we deplore the death of 
another distinguished Botanist and Honorary Member of our Society 
through the death of Thomas Hick, B.A., B.Sc, A.L.S., who finished 
his course at the residence of his eldest son. Dr. Herbert Hick, at 
Laisterdyke, on the 31st of July last. 
In early Hfe our friend lost, through a severe accident, several 
fingers of his right hand. His indomitable spirit, however, struggled 
against his adverse surroundings, how successfully only those who 
have seen him, with deft skill, cutting beautiful sections of plants and 
stems by hand, can judge. Possibly this accident turned his atten- 
tion from mechanical to literary and scientific pursuits, and, as often 
happens in life, what at first appeared an unqualified misfortune 
turned out a boon. Educated at The Royal Lancaster School, Leeds, 
Thomas Hick rose from the position of Scholar to the post of Master, 
and by private and strenuous study graduated in the first division as 
Bachelor of Arts and Science at the London University. At this 
time he was much engaged, teaching Mathematics, Botany, and 
Biology to the Science Students at Mechanics' Institutes at Leeds, 
Bradford, and elsewhere. 
In 1876, a Science Master was wanted at Pannal College, Harro- 
gate. The post was applied for, obtained, and held, with growing 
respect from the Principal and with the warm affection of the pupils, 
until 1886, when he was appointed Assistant Lecturer and Demon- 
strator in Botany at Owens College, Manchester. Like his chief, 
the late Professor W. C. Williamson, F.R.S., he was a Yorkshireman 
by birth and a gifted Palaeobotanist, who added lustre to Lancashire, 
the county of his adoption. At Manchester he spent the next ten 
years of his life, crowdiug into that decade much brilliant original 
research ; working hard almost to the last. 
