Notes

Abstract

THE death of Sir Francis Gallon at Grayshott House, near Haslemere, on January 17, marks another link broken with the greater leaders of nineteenth-century science. Sir Francis passed away quietly after only a few days' illness, clear in mind, and able within a few hours of his death to question his physician humorously as to the statistics available for the reputed action of strychnine as a drug. By his own desire his body was interred at Clavendon, near Warwick, a peaceful country churchyard, close to the house which had once been the home of his mother (Violetta Darwin), and still remains a spot with much of artistic interest to those who value the family history of a noteworthy scientific stock. The funeral took place an Saturday, January 21, the Master of Trinity College (representing the University of Cambridge and the college) and the vicar of Clavendon taking the service. Among the relatives and friends present were Miss E. Biggs, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Wheler, Father Charles Galton, S.J., Major Hubert Galton, Miss Violet Galton, Mrs. Moilliet, Major Guy Lethbridge, Mr. Geoffrey Butler, Mr. A. F. G. Butler, Charles Galton Darwin, Miss A. Jones, and Prof. K. Pearson. The Royal Society was represented by Sir George Darwin and Mr. William Bateson, the former also representing the Royal Meteorological Society; Prof. A. Dendy represented the University of London and King's College; Major Leonard Darwin, the Royal Geographical Society; Dr. Charles Chree, the Kew Observatory; and Dr. David Heron, the Galton Eugenics Laboratory. We hope next week to publish some account of Sir Francis Galton's life and work.