In September, George Richardson Porter, senior, Secretary of the Board of Trade, Treasurer of the Statistical Society. The statistical writings of this remarkable man brought about many changes in the law, and conduced signally to the repeal of “the corn-laws.”
Dr. Macgillivray, Professor of Natural History, and Lecturer on Botany in the University of Aberdeen. As a writer, a professor, and a philosopher, the doctor obtained an enduring fame, not only in Scotland, but throughout the learned world.
Augustus Nathmure Welby Pugin, the celebrated architect, was among those called away by death in this month.
In November, Gideon Alderson Mantell, LL.D., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S. He was distinguished in early life by a thirst for knowledge, and a capacity to attain it under the greatest difficulties, being lowly born—the son of a shoemaker at Lewes. As a chemist, a physician, a naturalist, and a geologist, he obtained a wide-spread reputation.
The Countess of Lovelace died this month. This lady had achieved nothing remarkable by any effort or genius of her own, but the country felt great interest in her as the only daughter of the popular poet. Lord Byron: of her he had sung,—
“Ada, sole daughter of my house and heart.”
She was a lady of very elegant mind, and capable of accurate and profound thought; her intellectual attainments were very considerable, and of a nature unusual for ladies. Her remains were laid beside those of her father.
In December, the death of the Rev. Samuel Lee, D.D., was recorded. He was Canon of Bristol, and Regius Professor of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge. His knowledge of languages was vast and critical, and he attained especially a great reputation in the dead languages of the East. He was born in great obscurity, and received his first rudiments of learning in a charity school. He was one of the most remarkable men of the age.
At Kensington, Mr. Stephens, the celebrated entomologist, added another to the list of remarkable persons removed during this year.
It is not possible within the space allotted to this work to notice the removal from life of all the eminent persons recorded in the obituary of this year—persons whose life was a portion of English history in its most interesting aspects, and whose death excited the deep attention and regret of the nation, A record of great political events, merely, will not depict the history or progress of a nation, but as her mighty children one by one disappear from the social state, upon which they have impressed their own intellect and character, their names and deeds should be presented as forming a glorious part of the facts and history of the country and the time.