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Dawson's Rock |
| civil parish:- |
Garsdale (formerly Yorkshire) |
| county:- |
Cumbria |
| locality type:- |
rocks |
| coordinates:- |
SD779893 (roughly) |
| 1Km square:- |
SD7789 |
| 10Km square:- |
SD78 |
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hearsay:-
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John Dawson, born of a statesman family at Raygill Farm, 1734, became an apothecary
and surgeon in Sedbergh, and later trained in medicine in Edinburgh and London. He
returned to Sedbergh, married Ann Thirnbeck of Ellers, and served the community as
their country doctor. He was an astute mathematician, and taught numerous men who
later were senior wranglers in the Cambridge Mathematics Tripos. Adam Sedgwick was
greatly influenced by John Dawson, who was perhaps part of Adam's first intellectual
awakening. He had aportait of his friend in his rooms at Cambridge, and described
the man:-
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"Simple in Manners, cheerful and mirthful in temper with a dress approaching that of
the higher class of venerable old Quakers of the Dales without any stuffiness or affectation
of superiority, yet did he bear at first sight a very commanding presence, and it
was impossible to glance at him for a moment without feeling that we were before one
whom God has given gifts above those of a common man. His powerful projecting forehead
and well chiselled features told of much thought; and might have implied severity,
had not the soft radiant benevolence played over his fime old face, which inspired
his friends, of whatever age or rank, with confidence and love."
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Early in his life he is said to have worked out some elaborate mathematics on conic
sections, while watching his flocks, sitting on this boulder on the fellside.
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Speakman, Colin: 1982: Adam Sedgwick: Broadoak Press & Geological Sociaety of London
&Trinity College, Cambridge:: ISBN 0 906716 01 2
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He died 1820, and is buried in Sedbergh.
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