150 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Dr. JONATHAN HEAEDER. 
Jonathan Nash Heabdek was for many years one of the most 
active and energetic contributors to the scientific department of 
the Society's pursuits. 
He was born at Plymouth in 1809. At an early age he acquired 
great dexterity in the use of tools, and was enabled to produce for 
himself electrical and chemical apparatus, wherewith he acquired 
knowledge experimentally, and which eventually led on to the prose- 
cution of lengthened investigations of a very important character. 
He was soon distinguished for his ability in the production of 
electrical machines of very remarkable efficiency. He was also very 
successful in devising electrical apparatus, and in the execution of 
experiments illustrative of the phenomena of electricity. At the 
early age of seventeen he gave courses of lectures in Plymouth and 
at Exeter on electrical and chemical subjects ; and from that time 
until comparatively a recent period he continued to give lectures 
throughout the Western Counties and elsewhere, which were dis- 
tinguished for their eloquent lucidity of explanation and brilliancy 
of experimental illustration. His bright, cheerful style of treatment 
of difficult subjects had such a charm for his audience that he 
gained adherents to the pursuits of science, and sealed the fate for 
life of at least some of his young hearers. He was a thoroughly 
scientific man ; no mere show lecturer, but one who pursued science 
for its own sake. In his lectures he always challenged discussion ; 
and it was no uncommon thing in his early days for the discussions 
to excite such interest as to lead to repeated adjournments. 
His early-acquired dexterity of manipulation stood him in good 
stead ; for at the age of twenty-one he lost his sight through the 
accidental explosion of silver fulminate ; but his perseverance was 
such that he continued to make his own apparatus at the lathe, 
and his associates have regarded with envy and admiration pieces 
of work that he could turn out, quite beyond their capability. It 
was not easy for a stranger to believe that he was blind, looking 
at his movements behind the lecture table, well covered with com- 
plicated apparatus. 
His lectures at the Athenaeum were always looked forward to, 
not only by the members, but also by outsiders, with interested 
