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at that, as he soon became more closely identified with all the 
interests of the institution to which he belonged, his influence 
increased in proportion, and he came to be regarded not merely as 
one of the best teachers of his department, but as one of the highest 
authorities in biological science. 
Dr Sharpey continued to perform the duties of his chair during 
the long period of thirty-eight years, maintaining to the last the 
same scrupulous care in the preparation of his lectures and the 
performance of all his academic duties which had distinguished the 
earlier and more vigorous parts of his career. And all his pupils, 
many of whom occupy very high places in science and medicine, 
acknowledge with pleasure their debt of gratitude to their teacher, 
not alone for the exact and solid information which they derived 
from his instructions, but also for the scientific spirit and love of 
truth which he endeavoured to instil into their minds. 
Dr Sharpey’s wide range of information, together with his remark- 
ably wise and fair judgment, were such as to inspire great reliance 
on his opinion, and naturally led to his being called upon to take 
an active part in the management of other scientific institutions of 
the metropolis. 
In 1840, when the London University obtained its charter to 
grant degrees, he was appointed one of the examiners, and he 
retained that office during the unusually long period of twenty- 
three years. He was at a later period a member of the Senate of 
the University. During fifteen years he was a member of the 
General Medical Council of Education and Registration. He was 
a trustee of the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of 
Surgeons, and a member of the Science Commission which met 
under the presidency of the Duke of Devonshire from 1870 to 
1875. And it need scarcely be said that in the affairs of these 
several bodies, as in all others with which he was concerned, his 
extensive knowledge, clear sagacity, and sound judgment aided 
greatly the deliberations of those with whom he was associated, and 
contributed to the advance of science and the promotion of measures 
of public utility. 
But the body with the management of which, next to University 
College, Dr Sharpey was most closely connected, was the Royal 
Society of London, which he joined as Fellow in 1839, and of 
