My Dear Mr Tyndall,
In consequence of the promotion of Mr Adams1 to the Lowndes Chair of Astronomy in Cambridge,2 it is more than probable that our Chair of Natural Philosophy,3 which is in the gift of the College4 will be vacant. Its value will doubtless be raised to £500 per annum from £350. Would you accept of it? I am
My Dear Mr Tyndall | Ever Most Truly y[ou]rs | D. Brewster. | St. Leonard’s College | St. Andrews | Nov. 25th 1858
RI MS JT/1/B/127
RI MS JT/1/TYP/1/158
Mr Adams: John Couch Adams (1819–92), a British mathematician and astronomer, most well-known for his prediction of the existence and position of the planet Neptune (ODNB).
Lowndes Chair of Astronomy in Cambridge: the Lowndean Chair of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge in England, established in 1749 by the astronomer Thomas Lowndes. Adams held this professorial chair from 1859 until his death in 1892.
Chair of Natural Philosophy: the Chair of Natural Philosophy at St. Andrews University in Scotland was vacated by John Couch Adams in 1859 (he had only served since 1858) and filled by William Swan (1818–94), a Scottish mathematician and physicist, who served until 1880.
the College: St. Leonard’s College.
Please cite as “Tyndall1572,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on