personal character, great natural ability, sound judgment, moderation, forbearance, and other qualities making him a model ruler of a college. He was a considerable benefactor to St. John's, both during his life and by his will, which provided that the college should be residuary legatee. About 50,000l. thus came to its coffers. His library was also left to the college.
Wood died in college on 23 April 1839, and was interred in the college chapel. A statue by Edward Hodges Baily was erected in the ante-chapel, and there are portraits in the hall and in the master's lodge. An engraved portrait was published in 1841. Wood's works, which were for many years standard treatises, are: 1. ‘The Elements of Algebra,’ Cambridge, 1795, 8vo; many subsequent editions appeared, the eleventh to the sixteenth (1841–61) being edited by Thomas Lund, who also wrote a ‘Companion’ and a ‘Key’ to the work. 2. ‘The Principles of Mechanics,’ 1796, 8vo; 7th edit. 1824. J. C. Snowball brought out a new edition in 1841, but in the opinion of Whewell it was spoiled. 3. ‘The Elements of Optics,’ 1798, 8vo; 5th edit. 1823. The above originally formed portions of a series known as the ‘Cambridge Course of Mathematics.’ Wood was F.R.S., and wrote in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ for 1798 on the ‘Roots of Equations.’ He also contributed a paper on ‘Halos’ to the ‘Memoirs’ of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, 1790.
[Baker's Hist. of St. John's, ed. Mayor, ii. 1094; Wilson's Miscellanies, ed. Raines, 1857, p. 194; Palatine Notebook, ii. 110; Pryme's Recollections, p. 252.]
WOOD, Sir JAMES ATHOL (1756–1829), rear-admiral, born in 1756, was third son of Alexander Wood (d. 1778) of Burncroft, Perth, who claimed descent from Sir Andrew Wood [q. v.] of Largo. He was younger brother of Sir Mark Wood, bart. [q. v.], and of Major-general Sir George Wood (d. 1824). First going to sea, presumably in the East India trade, in 1772, he entered the navy in September 1774, as ‘able seaman’ on board the Hunter sloop on the coast of Ireland and afterwards on the North America station. In July 1776, as master's mate, he joined the Barfleur, flagship of Sir James Douglas [q. v.] at Portsmouth. In April 1777 he was moved into the Princess Royal, the flagship of Sir Thomas Pye [q. v.], and from her was lent to the Asia, as acting lieutenant, during the spring of 1778. He rejoined his ship in time to go out with Vice-admiral John Byron to North America, where, on 18 Oct. 1778, he was promoted to be lieutenant of the 50-gun ship Renown, with Captain George Dawson. After taking part in the reduction of Charlestown in April 1780, the Renown returned to England; for some months Wood was employed in small vessels attached to the Channel fleet, but in November 1781 he was appointed to the 64-gun ship Anson with Captain William Blair [q. v.], in which he was in the action of 12 April 1782, and continued till the peace. The next two or three years he passed in France, and then, it is stated, accepted employment in merchant ships trading to the East Indies, and later on to the West Indies.
When the fleet under Sir John Jervis (afterwards Earl of St. Vincent) [q. v.] arrived at Barbados in January 1794, Wood happened to be there, and, offering his services to Jervis, was appointed to the flagship, the Boyne. After the reduction of Martinique he was sent to France with the cartels in charge of the French prisoners; but on their arrival at St. Malo in the end of May the ships were seized and Wood was thrown into prison. The order to send him to Paris, signed by Robespierre and other members of the committee of public safety, was dated 13 Prairial (1 June), the very day of Lord Howe's victory. In Paris he was kept in close confinement till April 1795, when he was released on parole and returned to England. He was shortly afterwards exchanged, was promoted (7 July 1795), and was appointed to command the Favourite sloop, which he took out to the West Indies. There he was sent under [Sir] Robert Waller Otway to blockade St. Vincent and Grenada. While engaged on this service he had opportunities of learning that Trinidad was very insufficiently garrisoned; and after the reduction of the revolted islands he suggested to the commander-in-chief, Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian [q. v.], the possibility of capturing it by an unexpected attack. Christian was on the point of going home and would not commit his successor [Sir] Henry Harvey [q. v.], to whom, on his arrival, Wood repeated his suggestion. Harvey sent him to make a more exact examination of the state of the island, and, acting on his report, took possession of it without loss. Of four ships of the line which were there, only half manned and incapable of defence, the Spaniards burnt three; Wood was appointed, by acting order, to command the fourth, and sent home with convoy. His captain's commission was confirmed, to date 27 March 1797.
Early in 1798 he was appointed to the Garland frigate, which was sent out to the
