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investigator in three distinct sciencos; in geology, by his early work
on zonal distribution of the fossils on the Yorkshire coast, and again
by his investigations of the Foraminifera of marine deposits; in
zoology, by his researches on the development of the teeth and bones,
not to mention his work on recent Foraminifera and Rotifera; in
botany, by is elucidation of the structure of fossil plants. It wonld
be difficult to find another examplo from our own time of equally
varied and successfnl scientific activity.
His ability was recognised by competent men of science from his early youth upwards, and during all the earlier part of his career his work was of an advanced type, and up to the best standard of the day. At a later period, especially during his investigations of the Carboniferous Flora, this was no longer the case in an equal degree Owing chiefly, perhaps, to his want of knowledge of German, his later publications suffered somewhat from his insufficient familiarity with the results of modern botanical work, and with the consequent tech- ical expressions. This makes some of his writings hard to follow, and has led to their being estimated below their true value by some botanists of a more modern school, who have sometimes failed to appreciate discoveries, however important, unless recorded in the current vernacular of modern science. Those, however, who take the trouble to surmount this initial difficulty, will always be astonished at the wealth of observation which his work contains, and at the sound judgment which he brought to bear on his discoveries.
After his retirement from official duties in 1892, Williamson spent the last three years of his life near London in peaceful devotion to his favourite studies, continuing his scientific researches to the last. His death took place at his house at Clapham Common, on June 23, 1895, at the age of 78.
His unique collection of slides, illustrating the microscopical strnc- ture of fossil plants, has happily been acquired by the British Museum (Natural History Department)
Williamson received various marks of public recognition during his long career. A Royal medal was awarded to him in 1874 for his researches on fossil plants, at a time when he had only published six out of his nineteen memoirs in the 'Philosophical Transactions'; in 1890 he received the Wollaston medal of the Geological Society; he was a foreign member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences, and of the Royal Society of Sweden; n 1883, the University of Edinburgh conferred upon him the degree of LL.D
D. H. S
Admiral Sir GEORGE HENRY RicHARDs, K.C.B. This officer, the son of Captain G. S. Richards, R.N., was born in 1820, and entered the Royal Navy, on board the "Rhadamanthus," in 1833, and served
