Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 06.djvu/383

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Brockedon
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Brockedon

cross the Alps fifty-eight times, and to pass into and out of Italy by more than forty different routes. The result was the publication, in 1827, of the first part of his 'Illustrations of the Passes of the Alps by which Italy communicates with France, Switzerland, and Germany.' The work, containing 109 engravings, was issued in twelve parts, from 1827 to 1829, forming when complete two royal quarto volumes, and was gratefully dedicated to his earliest patron, Archdeacon Froude. The drawings, which were entirely by Brockedon's own hand, were done in sepia, and were sold in 1837 to the fifth Lord Vernon for 500 guineas.

In 1833 he published in one volume his 'Journals of Excursions in the Alps, the Pennine, Graian, Cottian, Rhetian, Lepontine, and Bernese.' He also edited Finden's 'Illustrations to the Life and Works of Lord Byron.' In 1835 he edited for the Findens the 'Illustrated Road Book from London to Naples,' with thirty illustrations by himself and his friends Prout and Stanfield. In 1836 he wrote for 'Blackwood's Magazine' 'Extracts from the Journal of an Alpine Traveller,' and he subsequently wrote the Savoy and Alpine parts of Murray's 'Handbook for Switzerland.' His next work, published in folio in 1842-4, was 'Italy, Classical, Historical, and Picturesque, illustrated and described,' with sixty engravings from drawings by himself, Eastlake, Prout, Roberts, Stanfield, Harding, and other friends. In 1855, in conjunction with Dr. Croly, he wrote part of the letterpress of David Roberts's 'Views in the Holy Land, Syria, &c.,' Croly writing the historical, and Brockedon the descriptive portions.

3. During all these years Brockedon's love of art and literature was divided with his love of mechanical and scientific pursuits. As far back as 1819 his taste for mechanics led him to turn attention to the mode of wire-drawing then in use. Brockedon invented a mode of drawing the wire through holes pierced in sapphires, rubies, and other gems. He patented this invention, and visited Paris in connection with it; but, from the facility of violation, it was not a source of profit, though now the mode universally adopted. In 1831 he invented and patented, in conjunction with the late Mr. Mordan, a pen of a novel form called the 'oblique,' from the slit being in the usual direction of the writing. He next turned his attention to the preparation of a substitute for corks and bungs by coating felt with vulcanised india-rubber. He took out a patent for this invention in 1838, and in 1840 and 1842 enlarged its scope by other patents for retaining fluids in bottles, and for the manufacture of fibrous materials for the cores of stoppers. This invention led to his forming business relations with Messrs. Charles Macintosh & Co. of Manchester. About the year 1841 he submitted to them his patents for a substitute for corks, through which he was interested in their business till 1845, when he became a partner, and retained that position till his death. In 1843 he patented an invention for the manufacture of wadding for firearms; another for condensing the carbonates of soda, potass, &c., into the solid form of pills and lozenges; and for preparing or treating plumbago by reducing common black lead to powder, and then compressing it in vacuo, so as to produce artificial plumbago for lead pencils purer than any that could then be obtained, in consequence of the exhaustion of the mines in Cumberland, and especially valuable to artists because free from (diamond) grit. The invention was first worked for him by Messrs. Mordan & Co., but at his death in 1854 the plant and machinery were sold by auction, and bought by one of the merchants connected with the lead industry at Keswick. In 1844, 1846, and 1851, he patented inventions for various applications of vulcanised india-rubber. In 1830 Brockedon took an active part in the formation of the Royal Geographical Society, and was elected a member of its first council. He was afterwards the founder of the Graphic, an art society. On 12 June 1830 he was elected a member of the Athenæum. It had been resolved to commemorate the opening of the new club house in Pall Mall by adding 200 members to the list, 100 being elected by the committee, and 100 by the club. Brockedon was one of the hundred elected by the committee. On 18 Dec. 1834 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. In February 1837 he lost his mother, for whose happiness he made the most loving provision from the moment when his improved prospects enabled him to do so.

He married in 1821 Miss Elizabeth Graham, who died in childbirth on 23 July 1829, in her fortieth year, leaving two children, Philip North, born at Florence on 27 April 1822, and Mary, married to Mr. Joseph H. Baxendale, the head of the firm of Pickford & Co. The son, who was educated as a civil engineer, became the favourite and confidential pupil of Mr. Brunel, and gave the brightest promise of future eminence in his profession, but was carried off by consumption at the early age of twenty-eight, on 13 Nov. 1849. On 8 May 1839 Brockedon married, as his second wife, the widow of Captain Farwell of Totnes, who survived him, and by whom he had no issue.