button to main menu  Gents Mag 1844 part 2 p.660

button introduction
button list, 2nd qtr 19th century
button continued from
Gentleman's Magazine 1844 part 2 p.660
Pp.431, 548. The will of Dr. John Dalton, of Manchester, has been proved in Doctors' Commons, by William Nield, esq. Peter Clare, esq. and the Rev. W. John, the executors, each of whom has a legacy of ninteen guineas. The deceased gives the sum of 2,000l. to his executors "to found a Professorship of Chemistry at Oxford" (but this is afterwards revoked). To the Society fo Friends at Wigton, Cumberland, 300l. To the school of the Society of Friends at Ackworth, York (attended by deceased for twenty years), 500l. To Dr. Henry, late of Manchester, but now of Hertford, all his manuscripts, &c. His gold and silver medals presented to him "by the Royal Societies of London," he bequeaths to the Manchester Philosophical Institution, of which he was President. To his housekeeper he gives 200l. and the remaineder of his property to various relations. The personal property is sworn under 4000l. -
The provision under the will (dated Dec. 22, 1841) relative to the foundation of a Professorship of Chemistry at Oxford is as follows: "I also give and bequeath to my executors the sum of 2,000l. and I request my executors to found, endow, or support a Professorship of Chemistry at Oxford, for the advancement of that science by lectures in which the Atomic Theory, as propounded by me, together with the subsequent discoveries and elucidations thereof, shall be introduced and explained." - However, in a codicil (dated 26th June, 1843), Dr. Dalton revoked his bequest, with the object, it is believed, of increasing the number and amount of several legacies. In this codicil, he directs the 2,000l. to fall into the general residue of his effects, and among other legacies gives the sum of 100l. to Dr. Daubeny, Professor of Chemistry and Botany in this University. It is thought that one of Dr. Dalton's motives in making this bequest was to testify the gratification he felt, to the last period of his life, at the reception he met with from the Univesity, at a time when he obtained the distinction of a Degree of D.C.L. during the meeting of the British Association, at Oxford, in 1832, and as an acknowledgement to Dr. Daubeny, for having been the means of persuading him to visit the University at that time. Some years ago, Professor Daubeny published a work on "The Atomic Theory," in illustration of Dr. Dalton's views, which he dedicated to that philosopher, who expressed himself much gratified with the contents, and pleased with the compliment.

button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.