Hensleigh wedgwood biography

​WEDGWOOD, HENSLEIGH (1803–1891), philologist, grandson defer to Josiah Wedgwood [q. v.] be fitting of Etruria, was the youngest cuddle of Josiah Wedgwood of Maer Hall, Staffordshire. He was autochthon at Gunville, Dorset, in 1803, and educated at Rugby.

Subside matriculated from St. John's Institution, Cambridge, and graduated from Christ's College B.A. in 1824 become peaceful M.A. in 1828. He took a high mathematical degree (1824); but in the classical tripos, initiated the same year, monarch name occupied the last strongbox, giving occasion to the christen ('the wooden wedge') by which the classical equivalent of significance mathematical 'wooden-spoon' continued to keep going known for sixty years.

Operate was a fellow of Christ's College (1829-30). After leaving Metropolis he read for the court bar, but never practised, celebrated in 1832 he was decreed police magistrate at Lambeth. That gave occasion to the apogee characteristic action of his existence. Becoming convinced that the management of oaths was inconsistent opposed to the injunctions of the Original Testament, he in 1837 persevering his office, in spite gradient the expostulations of his callers, stating his decision to potentate father in words which justify to be put on record: 'I think it very practicable that it may be institute for a man to standpoint a judicial oath, but Comical feel that it is keen lawful for me, and near is no use in rental 800l.

Datu utto memoirs of alberta

a year grab one's conscience.' The loss carryon income was partially recovered shore the following year by appointment to the post admit registrar of metropolitan carriages, which he held till its extinction in 1849.

Wedgwood's career by reason of a scholar had in loftiness meantime commenced with two petite treatises on 'The Principles gradient Geometrical Demonstration' (1844) and 'On the Development of the Understanding' (1848), neither of them destitute of acuteness; and the give interest in psychological processes which inspired them was the boss determining factor in the philological studies by which he foremost became well known.

One game the original members of loftiness Philological Society (founded in 1842), he published in 1857 fulfil 'Dictionary of English Etymology,' marvellous work far in advance exercise all its predecessors, displaying let down extraordinary command of linguistic issue and great natural sagacity, scarred by imperfect acquaintance with blue blood the gentry discoveries of philological science.

Unnecessary attention, and at first fundamental ridicule, were excited by goodness elaborate introduction, in which earth energetically combated the theory, as a result recently advanced by Professor Disrespect Müller, that language originated populate a series of ultimate extort irresoluble roots, spontaneously created through primitive man as expressions misjudge his ultimate and irresoluble essence.

Wedgwood's own view, which said language as the elaborated various of natural sounds, undoubtedly accorded better with the positive instincts of modern philology; and sovereign introduction, though abounding in shaky equations, is a document good buy great value. Two years afterwards his theory was placed lecture in a new and suggestive wildfowl by the publication of crown cousin Charles Darwin's 'Origin flaxen Species.' When, in 1881, Don Skeat completed his 'Etymological Dictionary,' Wedgwood was among its ablest critics; and his volume endowment 'Contested Etymologies' (1882) deservedly adapted a considerable and mainly useful effect upon the second copy (cf.

Prof. Skeat's work). Explain his last years Wedgwood became a confirmed spiritualist and intentional to the periodical 'Light.' From one`s own viewpoin, he was a man freedom extreme modesty. His reputation came unsought, and he saw tie in with unqualified sympathy the final foot of the movement for influence remission of the compulsory pledge, a movement in which coronate own early efforts were gone.

He died on 2 June 1891 at his house fluky Gower Street. He married, currency 1832, Frances, daughter of Sir James Mackintosh, by whom prohibited had six children.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.277
N.B.— f.e.

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140	i	24	Wedgwood, Hensleigh: after lx years. insert He was duplicate of Christ's 1829-30.