Ill 
in the pursuit of his favourite study. He was appointed Lecturer 
on Botany in the Medical School at Liverpool, and afterwards 
Professor of Botany in Queen’s College and in Blackburn College 
of the same city. 
On 10th May 1860, Mr Archer became Director of the Edin- 
burgh Industrial Museum, a name which was subsequently, by 
order of the Committee of Council on Education, changed into 
that of the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art. The office 
had become vacant by the death of Professor George Wilson, who 
had done much, by the charm of his persuasive advocacy, to com- 
mend the objects of the museum to the public. But the state of his 
health, and the want of any suitable building in which the necessary 
collections could be exhibited, prevented much progress being made. 
Shortly after Mr Archer’s appointment, however, the requisite steps 
were taken by the Government to proceed with the erection of 
a suitable museum, and in 1861 the foundation stone of the 
present building was laid by the lamented Prince Consort. To 
all the work connected with that ceremony — with the subsequent 
completion of the structure — with the transference to it of the 
collection made by Professor George Wilson, and also of his own 
private collection of upwards of two hundred specimens, chiefly 
of vegetable products used in the Arts — and with the supple- 
* 
menting and completing of these collections, Mr Archer devoted 
himself with untiring energy. What written appeals did not 
succeed in obtaining for the museum, personal solicitation at the 
various centres of industry rarely failed to secure. The enthusiasm 
of the director carried everything before it, and year after year he 
went over various countries in Europe, visiting important seats of 
manufacture and noteworthy art collections, and carrying back with 
him, as purchases or free gifts, the results of his untiring labours to 
enrich the museum at Edinburgh or South Kensington. When the 
eastern wing of the present building was completed, everything that 
Mr Archer could do to hasten on the extension of the central portion 
was done, and when the central portion was completed, no effort on 
his part was spared to induce the Government to complete the entire 
structure by the erection of the west wing now in progress. This 
he had the satisfaction of seeing commenced. In the arrangement 
and classification of the museum, as it now exists, and in the 
