BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 453
works illustrative of the natural history of the Scottish Isles, and had studied
for two years at Freyberg, under the celebrated Werner.
Few men of his day contributed more than Professor Jameson to the
advancement of natural history, and more especially geology, as presented
in its most popular and important department. His whole life was actively
devoted to study and investigation; and whether in the class-room, or
by his writings, he is equally entitled to the gratitude and respect of the
student. The vigour with which he prosecuted his academical labours was
the result of early enthusiasm. His first journey to Shetland, for the purpose
of exploring the mineralogy and natural phenomena of these islands, was undertaken
when only fifteen years of age ; and ere he had completed his nineteenth
year the world was in possession of the invaluable fruits of his researches.
After that period scarcely a season elapsed without witnessing some new
emanation from his accumulated stores.’
Professor Jameson is known as the founder, in 1808, of the Wernerian
Natural History Society of Edinburgh, and of whose Trunsactwns seven volumes
have been published. Besides his numerous separate works, it is to him the
world is chiefly indebted for the “ Edinburgh Philosophical Journal ”-a work
begun in 1819,z and which long continued to maintain a reputation deservedly
high as a valuable repository of science. The editorial duties in connection
with a publication of this description, extending over a period of nearly twenty
years, independently of the many valuable articles from his own pen, may well
be supposed to have occupied the greater part of the time not engrossed with
his classes j yet, notwithstanding his multifarious labours, Professor Jameson is
understood to have been a frequent contributor to the (‘ Edinburgh Encyclopaedia,”
the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica,” “ The Annals of Philosophy,” the
“ Edinburgh Cabinet Library,” and to other standard works of the day. It is
also worthy of notice that, “on the return of Captain Parry from his Polar
Expedition, and at the request of that gentleman, he drew up, from the
1 The following is a list of the separate works by Mr. Jameson :-
1798.-Mineralogy of the Island of Arran and the Shetland Islands, with Dissertations on Peat
and Kelp. 1800.-Mineralogy of the Scottish Isles, in two vols. 4t0, illustrated with Maps and
Plates. Part of the materials for which he was assisted in collecting by Mr. (now Sir Charles) Bell,
the celebrated anatomist. 1804.-Part. I., 8v0, of a “Mineralogical Description of Scotland,”
with Maps and Plates ; containing an account of the Geology of the County of Dumfries. 1806.-
Two vols. 8v0, of a “System of Mineralogy,” with Plates ; and a third on the “Characters of
Minerals.” 1809.-Elements of Geognosy. 1813.-In one volume, 4t0, to the Translation of the
Travels of Von Buch through Norway and Lapland-advised by Mr. Jameson-he added an account
of its author, and various notes illustrative of the natural history of Norway. 1813.-Translation
of Cuvier’s Essay on the Theory of the Earth, with numerow illustrations by Professor Jameson.
An elegant and popular volume, which has gone through several large impressions. 1816.-h three
vols., a new edition of the “ System of Mineralogy ;” also another edition of the “ Characters of
Minerals.” 1820.-A third edition of the same works greatly enlarged and improved. 1821.-A
Manual of Minerals and Mountain Rocks.
Dr. (afterwards Sir David) Brewster was corijoined with him in the editorship ; but owing to
some circumstances of a private nature, Professor Jameson became sole conductor after the publication
of the tenth volume of the old series. Dr. Brewster afterwards commenced the “ Edinburgh
Journal of Science.”
454 BI 0 GRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
specimens brought home, a sketch of the geology of the different coasts disy
covered and touched upon by our enterprising navigators, which was published,
together with the botanical observations of his friends Brown and Hooker, and
formed the scientific companion to Parry’s interesting narrative.”
During the thirty-four years of his Professorship Mr. Jarneson had the
honour of sending forth from his class-room many pupils who afterwards
acquired a name in the world; and not a few of whom filled distinguished
places in the seminaries and scientific institutions of Europe. It wonld be
tedious to enumerate a tithe of these illustrious names ; but among others may
be mentioned-Dr. Flitton, late President of the Geological Society of London ;
Sir George Mackenzie, author of “ Travels in Iceland ;” Dr. Boue, President
of the Geological Society of France ; Dr. Daubeny, Professor of Chemistry at
Oxford; Dr. Grant, Professor of Zoology in the University of London; Dr.
Turner, Professor of Chemistry in the same seminary ; Dr. Hibbert, author of
the “ History of the Shetland Isles,” etc. etc.
Professor Jameson, equally respected at home and abroad, was connected,
lionorarily or otherwise, with almost every society for the promotion of natural
history throughout the world. He was a fellow of the Royal Societies of
London and Edinburgh ; President of the Wernerian, and fellow of the Antiquarian,
Koyal-Medical, Royal-Physical, Plinian, Highland, and Horticultural
Societies of Edinburgh ; honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy, and
of the Royal Society of Dublin; fellow of the Royal LinnEan, and Royal
Geological Societies of London; honorary member of the Asiatic Society of
Calcutta, etc. etc.’ .
ROBERT JOHNSTON, Esq., the extreme figure to the right, behind
Professor Jameson, was an active, public-minded citizen. His father, Robert
Johnston, at one period a banker, but latterly a grocer on the North Bridge,
and his uncle, the late Dr. Johnston, minister of North Leith, have both been
described in a previous part of this Work. Mr. Johnston was born in 1765.
Though not destined for any of the learned professions, he received an excellent
education, and possessed a taste and extent of information decidedly
superior to the generality of men in a mercantile sphere of life.’ On the death
of his father he succeeded to the business, which he carried on throughout a
period of nearly forty years with considerable success.
Mr. Johnston first became a member of the Town-Council in 1810, and was
elected one of the Bailies in 1812. In 1814 he was chosen Dean of Guild,
the duties of which office he discharged in an efficient manner, effecting many
improvements throughout the city, even in districts beyond the proper range of
Professor Jameson died at Edinburgh on 17th April 1854, in the fiftieth year of his Professor-
An inteiwting memoir of him by his son, Laurence Jame-
His bust by Sir
He was a member of the Antiquarian Society, and on terms of intimacy with Sir Walter Scott,
Sir Walter presented him
ship, and the eightieth year of his age.
son, was published in the “ Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal for July 1854.
John Steel1 may be seen in the University library.
whose school-fellow he had been, and by whom he was highly respected.
with a copy of hi8 poetical works, accoinpanied by a very flattering letter.