William Mattieu Williams
Encyclopedia
William Mattieu Williams (6 February 1820 – 28 November 1892) was an English writer on science and educator.
. He attended evening classes at the London Mechanics' Institution in Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane
.
In 1841 he inherited a sum of money, and with his apprenticeship over, he passed two years at the University of Edinburgh
, and a period on a walking tour through Europe, paying his way by working as an artisan. He spent time in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. On his return to England he went to Edinburgh to study medicine, but decided not to become a surgeon.
He set up as an electrical instrument maker and electrotyper in Hatton Garden
, London. He also lectured about his tour and on other subjects at the Mechanics' Institution, where he was a member of the committee of management. He helped to make the Institution accept William Ellis
's offer of money to found a school, which, as the "Birkbeck School"’ was opened on 17 July 1848. The success of this school led George Combe
, whom Williams knew from Edinburgh, with the monetary support of Ellis, to found a similar institution in Edinburgh; Williams undertook the headmastership, and it was opened on 4 December 1848 under the title of the ‘Williams Secular School’ in the Trades' Hall, Infirmary Street. Shortly it moved, after a rapid increase in its numbers, to the premises of the former anatomical school of Dr. Robert Knox
at 1 Surgeons' Square.
In 1854, having been appointed master of the science classes in the recently opened Birmingham and Midland Institute
, Williams moved there and delivered his opening lecture on 17 August 1854. In 1856 he introduced the successful "Institute penny lectures". In 1857 he became acquainted with Felice Orsini
, and taught him something about manufacturing explosives, of interest to the Carbonari
plotters. Later he turned his attention to the chemistry and manufacture of paraffin
, and was appointed manager of the Leeswood Oil Company in 1863, when he left Birmingham for Caergwrle
, Flintshire
. After the decline of the Welsh oil-distilling industry following the discovery of oil fields in the USA, Williams went in 1868 to Sheffield
as chemist to the Atlas Iron Works of Sir John Brown & Co.
In 1870 Williams moved to London, and devoted his time to scientific writing. He delivered the Cantor lectures in 1876, taking for his subject ‘Iron and Steel Manufacture,’ and again in 1878, when he spoke on ‘Mathematical Instruments.’ On the death of his stepfather's brother, Zachariah Watkins, early in 1889, he came into money, and began at the age of sixty-nine what he described as his life-work, the Vindication of Phrenology. While revising the completed manuscript he died suddenly at his residence, The Grange, Neasden
, on 28 November 1892.
on 18 May 1857, and of the Royal Astronomical Society
on 14 June 1872. He was author of:
He edited Mrs. R. B. Taylor's ‘A B C of Chemistry’ in 1873, and wrote articles on ‘Iron and Steel,’ ‘Explosive Compounds,’ and ‘Oils and Candles’ for Bevan's ‘British Manufacturing Industries’ in 1876. He also contributed the ‘Science Notes’ to the Gentleman's Magazine from 1880 to 1889, and dozens papers on scientific subjects to learned journals.
Attribution
Life
The son of Abraham Williams, a fishmonger in London, and his wife Louise, daughter of Gabriel Mattieu, a Swiss refugee, he was born in London on 6 February 1820. He lost his father in infancy, and his mother married again when he was only four years old. After receiving and elementary education, he was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to Thomas Street, a mathematical and optical instrument maker in LambethLambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
. He attended evening classes at the London Mechanics' Institution in Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster and Camden...
.
In 1841 he inherited a sum of money, and with his apprenticeship over, he passed two years at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and a period on a walking tour through Europe, paying his way by working as an artisan. He spent time in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. On his return to England he went to Edinburgh to study medicine, but decided not to become a surgeon.
He set up as an electrical instrument maker and electrotyper in Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden is a street and area near Holborn in London, England. It is most famous for being London’s jewellery quarter and centre of the UK diamond trade, but the area is also now home to a diverse range of media and creative businesses....
, London. He also lectured about his tour and on other subjects at the Mechanics' Institution, where he was a member of the committee of management. He helped to make the Institution accept William Ellis
William Ellis (economist)
William Ellis was an English businessman, writer on economics, and educational thinker.-Life:Ellis was born in January 1800. His father, Andrew Ellis Ellis, an underwriter at Lloyd's of London, was the descendant of a French refugee family named De Vezian, and took the name Ellis shortly after the...
's offer of money to found a school, which, as the "Birkbeck School"’ was opened on 17 July 1848. The success of this school led George Combe
George Combe
George Combe , was a Scottish lawyer and writer on phrenology and education. In later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of phrenology. His major work was The Constitution of Man .-Early life:...
, whom Williams knew from Edinburgh, with the monetary support of Ellis, to found a similar institution in Edinburgh; Williams undertook the headmastership, and it was opened on 4 December 1848 under the title of the ‘Williams Secular School’ in the Trades' Hall, Infirmary Street. Shortly it moved, after a rapid increase in its numbers, to the premises of the former anatomical school of Dr. Robert Knox
Robert Knox
Robert Knox was a Scottish surgeon, anatomist and zoologist. He was the most popular lecturer in anatomy in Edinburgh before his involvement in the Burke and Hare body-snatching case. This ruined his career, and a later move to London did not improve matters...
at 1 Surgeons' Square.
In 1854, having been appointed master of the science classes in the recently opened Birmingham and Midland Institute
Birmingham and Midland Institute
The Birmingham and Midland Institute , now on Margaret Street in the city centre of Birmingham, England was a pioneer of adult scientific and technical education and today offers Arts and Science lectures, exhibitions and concerts. It is a registered charity...
, Williams moved there and delivered his opening lecture on 17 August 1854. In 1856 he introduced the successful "Institute penny lectures". In 1857 he became acquainted with Felice Orsini
Felice Orsini
Felice Orsini was an Italian revolutionary and leader of the Carbonari who tried to assassinate Napoleon III, Emperor of the French.-Early:Felice Orsini was born at Meldola in Romagna, then part of the Papal States....
, and taught him something about manufacturing explosives, of interest to the Carbonari
Carbonari
The Carbonari were groups of secret revolutionary societies founded in early 19th-century Italy. The Italian Carbonari may have further influenced other revolutionary groups in Spain, France, Portugal and possibly Russia. Although their goals often had a patriotic and liberal focus, they lacked a...
plotters. Later he turned his attention to the chemistry and manufacture of paraffin
Paraffin
In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...
, and was appointed manager of the Leeswood Oil Company in 1863, when he left Birmingham for Caergwrle
Caergwrle
Caergwrle is a village in the county of Flintshire, in north east Wales. Approximately 5–6 miles from Wrexham and situated on the A541 road, it is contiguous with the village of Abermorddu and closely related to the village of Hope . The village lies on the River Alyn and sits at the base of Hope...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
. After the decline of the Welsh oil-distilling industry following the discovery of oil fields in the USA, Williams went in 1868 to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
as chemist to the Atlas Iron Works of Sir John Brown & Co.
John Brown (industrialist)
Sir John Brown , British industrialist, was born in Sheffield. He was known as the Father of the South Yorkshire Iron Trade....
In 1870 Williams moved to London, and devoted his time to scientific writing. He delivered the Cantor lectures in 1876, taking for his subject ‘Iron and Steel Manufacture,’ and again in 1878, when he spoke on ‘Mathematical Instruments.’ On the death of his stepfather's brother, Zachariah Watkins, early in 1889, he came into money, and began at the age of sixty-nine what he described as his life-work, the Vindication of Phrenology. While revising the completed manuscript he died suddenly at his residence, The Grange, Neasden
Neasden
Neasden is an area in northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent.-History:The area was recorded as Neasdun in 939 AD and the name is derived from the Old English nēos = 'nose' and dūn = 'hill'. It means 'the nose-shaped hill' referring to a well-defined landmark of this area...
, on 28 November 1892.
Works
Williams was elected a fellow of the Chemical SocietyChemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
on 18 May 1857, and of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
on 14 June 1872. He was author of:
- ‘Who should teach Christianity to Children?’ Edinburgh, 1853.
- ‘Through Norway with a Knapsack,’ London, 1859, 8vo, 2 edits.; new edit. 1876.
- ‘A Vindication of Garibaldi,’ London, 1862.
- ‘The Intellectual Destiny of the Working Man,’ Birmingham, 1863,
- ‘Shorthand for Everybody,’ London, 1867.
- ‘The Fuel of the Sun,’ London, 1870.
- ‘Through Norway with Ladies,’ London, 1877.
- ‘A Simple Treatise on Heat,’ London, 1880.
- ‘Science in Short Chapters,’ London, 1882.
- ‘The Science of Cookery,’ London, 1884, for the International Health Exhibition.
- ‘The Chemistry of Cookery,’ London, 1885.
- ‘The Chemistry of Iron and Steel Making,’ London, 1890.
- ‘The Philosophy of Clothing,’ London, 1890.
- ‘A Vindication of Phrenology,’ London, 1894.
He edited Mrs. R. B. Taylor's ‘A B C of Chemistry’ in 1873, and wrote articles on ‘Iron and Steel,’ ‘Explosive Compounds,’ and ‘Oils and Candles’ for Bevan's ‘British Manufacturing Industries’ in 1876. He also contributed the ‘Science Notes’ to the Gentleman's Magazine from 1880 to 1889, and dozens papers on scientific subjects to learned journals.
Family
On 21 December 1859 he married Alice, eldest daughter of Joseph Baker, surveyor, of Birmingham.External links
- Sketch of William Mattieu Williams in Popular Science Monthly
- http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/MNRAS/0053//0000224.000.html
Attribution