Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 30.djvu/245

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sources of wealth in the fuel, water-power, mines, agriculture, and manufactures of Ireland, and indicated the most economical modes of working them. On Kane's suggestion the Government established in 1846 the ‘Museum of Irish Industry’ at St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, of which he was appointed director. In 1845 Kane received the appointment of president of the Queen's College at Cork (opened in 1849), and passed some time on the continent in investigating methods of university education. He was knighted by the viceroy of Ireland, Lord Heytesbury, in 1846, and was a member of the commissions appointed in 1845 to inquire into the potato blight and the relief of Irish distress. In ‘The Large and Small Farm Question Considered,’ 1844, Kane urged the formation of small farms in Ireland. He was granted the honorary degree of LL.D. by the university of Dublin in 1868; was appointed a commissioner of national education in Ireland in 1873, when he resigned his post at Queen's College, Cork; and was elected president of the Royal Irish Academy in 1877. In 1880 he was made vice-chancellor of the newly created Royal University of Ireland. He died at Dublin on 16 Feb. 1890. A portrait of him by G. F. Mulvany has been lithographed. He married in 1838 Katherine, daughter of Henry Baily, esq., of Newbury, Berkshire, and left issue. His wife died 25 Feb. 1880.

Kane was a frequent contributor to scientific publications, including the ‘Philosophical Transactions,’ ‘Philosophical Magazine,’ Poggendorf's ‘Annalen,’ ‘Comptes rendus,’ Taylor's ‘Scientific Memoirs,’ the ‘Geological Journal,’ ‘The Chemist,’ ‘Silliman's Journal,’ ‘Reports’ of the British Association, and to ‘Transactions’ and ‘Proceedings’ both of the Royal Society, London, and of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

[Personal information; Archives of the Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Dublin Society; Philosophical Transactions; Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, 1890; Dublin University Mag. 1849; Burke's Knightage; Men of the Time, 1887.]

J. T. G.

KARKEEK, WILLIAM FLOYD (1802–1858), veterinary surgeon, was born at Truro on 9 Sept. 1802, and obtained his diploma as a veterinary surgeon on 31 Jan. 1825. He became a leading authority in the west of England on scientific farming, and did much to encourage it in Cornwall by reading papers at the meetings of agricultural societies, and by acting as judge at various cattle-shows. He was for twenty years secretary to the Cornwall Agricultural Association, and was from 1838 to 1841 one of the editors of ‘The Veterinarian.’ He died at Pentreve, Truro, on 25 June 1858 from the effects of a carriage accident, and was buried in the St. Mary's burial-ground. He married, 12 March 1836, at Clifton, Bristol, Jane (1815–1870), daughter of Paul and Grace Quick, and left issue.

Karkeek published: 1. ‘An Essay on Artificial and other Manures,’ 1844. 2. ‘An Essay on Fat and Muscle.’ This gained a prize from the Royal Agricultural Society; appeared in vol. v. of its ‘Journal’ (1845), and was published separately, London, 1844. 3. ‘On the Farming of Cornwall,’ an elaborate report, which also gained a prize from the Royal Agricultural Society; appeared in its ‘Journal,’ vol. vi., 1845, and was reprinted in 1845. 4. ‘Diseases of Cattle and Sheep caused by Mismanagement;’ another prize essay, ‘Journal of Royal Agricultural Society,’ vol. xi. (1850), and separately, London, 1851. Karkeek also published two essays on like subjects in the ‘Journal of the Bath and West of England Society,’ which were both reprinted.

[Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub.; West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 2 July 1858; Veterinarian, xxxi. 478.]

W. A. J. A.

KARSLAKE, Sir JOHN BURGESS (1821–1881), lawyer, second son of Henry Karslake, solicitor, by his wife, a daughter of Richard Preston, Q.C., an eminent conveyancer and M.P. for Ashburton, was born at Bencham, near Croydon, in 1821. He was educated at Harrow; was articled to his father without proceeding to a university, and finally, joining the Middle Temple, was called to the bar in Hilary term 1846. He joined the western circuit, where he became the rival of Lord Coleridge at every step in his career. He was appointed a queen's counsel in 1861, and was then elected a bencher of his inn. In November 1866 he became solicitor-general and was knighted, but had no seat in parliament till, in the following year, being advanced to the attorney-generalship, he was elected for Andover, and held the seat and the office till the conservative ministry fell in 1868. He then unsuccessfully contested Exeter, when the seat was won by Lord Coleridge. He was out of parliament till 1873, when he was chosen at a by-election at Huntingdon. He resumed office under Mr. Disraeli in 1874, but failing sight compelled him first to resign his office in April 1875, and his seat in Parliament in February 1876, when he was sworn of the privy council. He continued to act upon the judica-