Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/124

HISTORY OF BISHOP AUGKLAND. 97 Thomas Wright^ F.R.S. It is somewhat strange that the genius and writings of this eminent mathematician and astronomer, which, after the straggles of his early life, rendered him deservedly popular with both the scientific and aristocratic world of his own day, should have been afterwards so much neglected and almost forgotten, particularly in his native place and county, to which he was an honour. Thomas Wright was bom at Byers Green, on the 22nd of September, 1711 — ^his father, a carpenter, living on a small estate of his own. His earliest education was under a teacher named Thomas Munday, of Bishop Auckland, where he made some progress in mathematics. It has been handed down by tradition, that, in his early days, he was accustomed to steal away from his plajrmates, who sometimes discovered him in the dry ditch of a hedge, or on the top of a hay stack,* eagerly devouring the contents of some book of which he had got possession. Being obliged to quit his study of the languages on account of an impediment in his speech, he was entered as an apprentice to a dock-maker in 1725, and in leisure hours applied himself closely to the study of astronomy. On account of some dissensions in his master's house, he ran away from his servitude ; and, having obtained a discharge from his indenture, he sat down with singular industry to study navigation, astronomy, geometry, and the abtruse branches of mathematics. On the promise of a ship from his father, on condition of his becoming a seaman, he made a trial voyage, from Sunderland to Amsterdam, in 1730, in the ship, " Fenwick and Jane," Captain Pott; but, not liking the sea, he opened a mathematical school at Sunderland. The young teacher shortly after became enamoured of a Miss Estreland, whose father, a clergyman, disapproving of the match, Wright made several fruitless attempts to procure a clandestine marriage, on the failure of which he went to London, with the intention of quitting England for Barbadoes. His father, however, induced him to return to the north, and resume his schooL In 1731, he projected a general representation of Euclid's Elements on one large sheet ; wrote a theorical Journal from the Lizard to Barbadoes, and made an almanac, in imitation of that of Oxford, for 1732, calculated for the meridian of Durham. With this work he travelled to London, and offered it for publication to the company of stationers, who informed him that the year was then (October) too far advanced for its publication, but promised that, on condition of his procuring 500 subscribers to an almanac for 1733, he should be rewarded with a yearly salary. Buoyed up with hope, he proceeded home, compiled his almanac, obtained 900 subscribers, and once more set off for London ; but the company, on the pretext of not wishing to interfere with Oxford, refused to print for him, and he was left to return to the north on foot with three or four shillings in his pocket On the road, however, he received great kindness from several scientific persons to whom he made himself known. He now determined to publish his almanac in Edinburgh ; and, having obtained a recommendation to Mr. Alan Ramsay, he travelled thither on foot, and contracted with an engraver to execute and print the work for fifteen guineas ; but considerable loss occurred from delays. On his return to Sunderland, the Rev. Daniel Newcombe, rector of that parish, who had previously been opposed to his success, became a warm patron and friend, and invited him to live with him. During his stay in the clergyman's hospitable mansion, he completed his '^ Pannauticon, the Mariner's Universal Magazine," and in April published A Oeneral Calculation of the Eclipse of the Sun," which was to take place in May. He, also, invented a composition of dials, and erected his model on the south pier, by order of the Commissioners of the river Wear, who rewarded him with a gratuity of twenty guineas ; and a description of the work was printed and published at the expense of the town. Better prospects now dawned on the enthusiastic mathematician. Mr. Newcombe introduced him to the Earl of Scarborough at Lumley Castle, who invited him to London, and promised his countenance and patronage. In the metropolis his Pannauticon" was approved of by the Royal Society and the Admiralty, and, on its publication, was dedicated to the King. Mr. Wright also made several calculations of eclipses, and was introduced to the Earl of Pembroke and the Duke of Kent, from whom he continued to receive the greatest respect and kindness. In 1736, he completed his invention of the " Theory of Existence," in a section of the creation, sixteen feet in length. In the following year, his leisure hours were employed in drawing many demonstratory schemes in astronomy, and in projecting certain physical and mathematical elements. During the summer, he constructed^ at the seat of the Earl of Pembroke, a system of the Planetary Bodies, in brass, in due proportions, equal to a radium of 190 feet ; and also invented a cylindrical dial, by which could be found the time of the sun's rising and setting, his place in the zodiac, his altitude, the time of the day, the sun's amplitude, his azimuth, and his declination. In 1738, Mr Wright composed his Astronomical Secrets, and invented a display of the Universal Vicissitude of Seasons, in folio. During several ensuing years, Mr. Wright continued to be the associate and instructor of persons of the highest rank and fashion, of both sexes. In 1742, he published his Astronomical Elements, and soon after received an offer from the Czarina of Russia, througih Prince Pariskin, of the chief Professorship of Navigation in the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburgh, with a salary of £300 a-year, and many other contingent advantages. Not considering this a sufficient inducement to leave his native country, he demanded a fixed salary of £500, a proposal which was not acceded to. Notwithstanding occasional attacks of illness, he continued to be a constant visitor and welcome guest at the seats of the nobility and gentry, both in England and Ireland. Whilst in the latter country, in 1746, he was engaged in visiting places of antiquity, and collecting drawings for his Louthiana," the first volume of which, with numerous curious plates, was published in 1748. In 1750, he produced his Theory of the Universe, illustrated with a great many plates. In 1756, Mr. Wright commenced building Byers Green Lodge, but continued his wandering life till 1762, when he retired to his native place, as he expressed it, to finish his studies." His country nei^bours, however, could not appreciate his genius. When Dr. Egerton came to the See of Durham, he, as well as Lady Sophia, paid an honourable attention to Digitized by Google