Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol III (1901).djvu/36

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Hutton
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Huxley

opinions and expressions of the leading members of the society with striking fidelity.

Hutton was a strong opponent of vivisection, and frequently attacked the practice in the 'Spectator.' In 1875 he served on a royal commission on the subject. The report was unfavourable to the practice, and in consequence in 1876 an act of parliament was passed by which persons experimenting on living animals were required to hold a license from the home secretary.

From 1886 Hutton lived at Twickenham in much retirement, owing chiefly to his second wife's long illness, giving up all society, even that of his closest friends. His wife died early in 1897, and he did not long survive her. He died on 9 Sept. 1897 at his residence, Crossdepe, and was buried in Twickenham parish cemetery on 14 Sept. 'Round his grave were grouped Anglicans, Roman catholics, and Unitarians, in about equal numbers and in equal grief.' He was twice married : first, in 1851, to his cousin, Anne Mary (d. 1853), daughter of William Stanley Roscoe (1782-1843); and secondly, in 1858, to Eliza (d. 1897), daughter of Robert Roscoe. Both ladies were granddaughters of William Roscoe [q. v.] the historian. He left no children.

Besides the works already mentioned, Hutton was the author of: 1. 'The relative Value of Studies and Accomplishments in the Education of Women,' London, 1862, 8vo. 2. 'Sir Walter Scott,' London, 1878, 8vo (Morley's 'English Men of Letters'). 3. 'Essays on some of the Modern Guides of English Thought in matters of Faith,' London, 1887, 8vo. 4. 'Criticisms on Contemporary Thought and Thinkers,' London, 1894, 8vo. He contributed 'The Political Character of the Working Class' to 'Essays on Reform' (London, 1867, 8vo), and 'Reciprocity' to a volume of 'Lectures on Economic Science,' published by the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science (London, 1870, 8vo). In 1899 a volume of selections from Hutton's writings in the 'Spectator,' entitled 'Aspects of Religious and Scientific Thought,' was, published under the editorship of his niece, Miss Elizabeth Mary Roscoe. William Watson's 'Lachrymæ Musarum and other Poems' (London, 1893, 8vo) was dedicated to Hutton and Townsend. [This article is based on a sketch of Hutton's career kindly supplied by Mr. D. C. Lathbury. See also Hogben's Richard Holt Hutton of the Spectator, 1900; Academy, 18 Sept. 1897, 22 April 1899; Inquirer, 18 and 25 Sept., 2 and 9 Oct. 1897: Watson's Excursions in Criticism, 1893, pp. 113-20; Contemporary Review, October 1897 (by Miss Julia Wedgwood); Bookman, October 1897; Primitive Methodist Quarterly, January 1898 (by Robert Hind); Wilfrid Ward's W. G. Ward and the Catholic Revival, 1893; L. Huxley's Life of Huxley, 1900, i. 439; Jackson's James Martineau, 1900, pp. 80, 192-3.]


HUXLEY, THOMAS HENRY (1825–1895), man of science, was born at Ealing on 4 May 1825. His father, George Huxley, was senior assistant master in a school at Ealing, which had at that time a considerable reputation under the head-mastership of Dr. Nicholas. Huxley was the seventh child of his parents, and the youngest of those who survived infancy. His mother's maiden name was Rachel Withers. He says of himself: 'Physically and mentally I am the son of my mother so completely — even down to peculiar movements of the hands, which made their appearance in me as I reached the age she had when I noticed them — that I can hardly find a trace of my father in myself, except an inborn faculty for drawing, which unfortunately, in my case, has never been cultivated, a hot temper, and that amount of tenacity of purpose which unfriendly observers sometimes call obstinacy.'

When Huxley was eight years old he was sent to the school in which his father worked; but the death of the head-master led to a change in the character of the school, and George Huxley left it, taking his family to his native town of Coventry. From this time Huxley received little or no systematic education, and his reading does not seem to have been guided by any definite plan. He did, however, earnestly and thoroughly read books on a great variety of subjects. At fourteen he had read Sir William Hamilton's 'Logic,' and under the influence of Carlyle's writings he had begun to learn German.

In 1839 his two sisters married, and each married a doctor. This circumstance seems to have determined the choice of a profession for Huxley himself, although he tells us that his own wish at the time was to become a mechanical engineer. One brother-in-law, Dr. Cooke of Coventry, strongly excited his interest in human anatomy, and in 1841 he went to London as apprentice to the other, Dr. J. G. Scott. At the first post-mortem examination he attended he was in some way poisoned; a serious illness resulted, and after the immediate effects had passed away a form of chronic dyspepsia remained, which was a source of serious trouble throughout his after life.

In 1842 he matriculated at London University, attended Lindley's lectures on botany at Chelsea, and endeavoured, in spite