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Abstract

WHEN John Anderson became Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, in 1786, he began to give instruction in science to persons engaged in industries. This was the beginning of technical education, and the future of the new line of study was to some extent provided for in Glasgow by its founder bequeathing the whole of his property “to the public for the good of mankind and the improvement of science in an institution to be denominated Anderson's University.” The total value of the property, however, was only about £1000, and this, as Prof. Sexton remarks, was a small sum wherewith to start a new university which was to revolutionise the education of the country. But the gift formed a nucleus which attracted other benefactions, and, after a short time, sufficient funds were raised to appoint a Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. Dr. Thomas Garnett was nominated for this post in May, 1796. Three years later Count Rumford founded the Royal Institution, and Garnett accepted the first professorship in it. He was succeeded at the Anderson's Institution by Dr. George Birkbeck, who afterwards assisted in founding the well-known Birkbeck Insiitution in London. Dr. Ure next occupied the chair, and when he retired it was decided to appoint two professors—one of Natural Philosophy and one of Chemistry. Among the men who occupied the former chair at different times were Dr. William Heron, Dr. John Taylor, Prof. Carey Foster, and Prof. A. S. Herschel. The chair of chemistry was successively filled by Thomas Graham, Dr. William Gregory, Dr. Penny, Dr. T. E. Thorpe, and Prof. Dittmar. About 1830 Graham established a public laboratory for experimental work in chemistry, the first of its kind in Great Britain, and among the students who worked in it were Dr. James Young, Lord Playfair, and Dr. Walter Crum. Into the various changes which the institution has undergone we do not propose to enter. Suffice it to say that Anderson's College, the Mechanics' Institute, and the Allan Glen's School were united in 1882 to form the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. The Mechanics' Institution, or College of Science and Arts, mentioned in this connection, was founded in 1823 as the result of the secession of some members of the Anderson's Institution. Lord Kelvin and his brother, the late Prof. James Thomson, studied for some time at the former institution.

The First Technical College.

By A. Humboldt Sexton. Pp. 188. 1894. (London: Chapman and Hall.)