button to main menu  Gents Mag 1816 part 2 p.278

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Gentleman's Magazine 1816 part 2 p.278
[Bur]net's celebrated work; that he completed it about six months ago, and left directions for its publication after his decease. Such a performance from so eminent a character will, of course, be expected with no ordinary anxiety by the political as well as the literary world. ...
... In his private deportment, though somewhat reserved, he was remarkable for the simplicity of his manners, and the equality of his temper; enjoying all the emoluments of his stations, and the fame arising from his writings, in rural retirement at Calgarth Park, Westmorland, a beautiful sequestered situation on the celebrated Lakes, a retreat which he had not only adorned and improved, but in some measure created, and where his Lordship passed much of his time in the indulgence of those deep studies to which his whole life was addicted. His Plantations here were very extensive, and in 1789 gained him a premium from the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. ...

Obituary, Joseph Huddart

  obituary
  Joseph Huddart

And an obituary
JOSEPH HUDDART, ESQ. F.R.S. (see p.190)
This venerable gentleman, whose distinguished services as a Geographer, and unwearied attention to the different departments of science which he embraced, fully entitled him to the gratitude of his Country, was born at Allenby, a village in Cumberland, 11th Jan. 17401, O.S at which place his father followed the profession of a shoemaker. He was an only child; and, at a proper age, was placed under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Wilson, then clergyman of the parish of Allenby, who was an excellent classical scholar, but did not possess any knowledge of mathematicks, to which study the mind of his pupil seemed most to bend. His father intended him for the Church; but a strong prediliction for a sea-life, 'a life of danger and of honour,' caused a rooted aversion to theological pursuits; and he, shortly after leaving school, had his wishes gratified by the following circumstance: About the year 1756-7, great shoals of herrings came into the Firth of Forth; and Allenby being a fishing-town, the elder Mr. Huddart, in conjunction with some respectable neighbours, built conveniences for the purpose of curing them. Young Huddart, of course, was employed in the fishery in small vessels, thereby laying the foundation, by practical knowledge, of the conspicuous talents which a few years soon developed. His father dying in 1762, he became concerned in the profits of the fishery, when he took the command of a small brig employed in carrying cargoes of their commodity to different ports, principally to Ireland, for the West-India markets. His time not being fully taken up with these trips, his active mind would not permit him to be idle; and, having a strong mechanical turn, he devoted his leisure opportunities to the study of ship-building and astronomy: in the latter pursuit, he derived great advantage from the assistance of the son of the Rev. Mr. Wilson, who had attended the University of Glasgow, and was a very ingenious young man. Mr. Huddart, however, was not long destined to remain employed in the mere conveyance of fish; for, in 1763-4, the shoals wholly left the Firth, and fell into Chester. Similar conveniences, by the same company, were erected at Park-gate; but the quantity fell so far short of his expectations, that he took the command of a brig belonging to a relation, intending, as soon as a vessel which then occupied the slips was completed, immediately to build one himself. It may appear surprising, that, with no farther instruction than his own genius elicited, this task he accomplished in the course of the year 1768, and moulded every timber about her with his own hands. In this vessel he continued till 1773; and his navigation having been principally confined to St. George's Channel, every leisure moment was devoted to the survey of different ports and roadsteds; and having claimed the attention of nautical men, by the accuracy of the delineation of some few charts, which were published, he was strongly solicited by Sir Richard Hotham to enter into the India Company's service. He accordingly, in the season 1773-4, proceeded to India as
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