HEROES OF SCIENCE.
HEROES OF SCIENCE.
BOTANISTS, ZOOLOGISTS, AND GEOLOGISTS.
BY
PROFESSOR P. MARTIN DUNCAN, F.R.S., F.L.S.,
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY;
HONORARY FELLOW OF KING’S COLLEGE, LONDON.
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
LONDON:
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE;
NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS;
43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET; 48, PICCADILLY;
AND 135, NORTH STREET, BRIGHTON.
NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO.
1882.
There is no little difficulty in obtaining correctand reliable life histories of most of the greatestnaturalists. Many of the men to whom naturalhistory science owes so much, lived extremelyretired and uneventful lives; but a few, and asmight have been anticipated, the reformers andepoch makers of their respective sciences, havehad their most interesting biographies well written.Abstracts of these biographies form a large portionof this book; and the author desires toacknowledge the very copious extracts he hasmade, from sources which he has recognized in theproper places.
Most of us, on leaving school or college, areanxious about our future career in the world, andconcerning how we are to live, and what will beour occupations. Some young people who havefinished their education, find themselves in comfortablecircumstances, and are apt to look forwardto an easy life; but the majority have a hardstruggle before them, ere they can hope to be freefrom cares and to be successful. Yet it usuallyhappens, that those youths starting with the verybest prospects, do not live so happily, usefully, andwell, as those who have to struggle with poverty,and who casting aside inglorious ease, labour onperseveringly. It is hard to believe, until theexperience of years brings its very practical proofs[viii]that knowledge is more valuable than money; a