JOHN DALTON'S "AUTOBIOGRAPHY" DENIS I. DUVEEN New York, New York HERBERT S. KLICKSTEIN The Johns Hopkins University, Institute of the History of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
J o m DALTON(1766-1844), one of the leading protagonists of the atomic theory, has been the subject of a number of full-length studies;' Dalton himself, however, left no extensive personal memoirs so that these are based on other sources. It is, therefore, of some interest to learn that Dalton penned a short autobiographical sketch on a t least two occasions. The first was written on October 22, 1832 (Manchester) when Dalton was 66 years of age, and was presented to Richard Roberts (1789-1864), the Manchester inventor, who was then making an extensive autograph collection of famous personages of his time. Roberts included the sketch in his "Book of autograph^."^ It was reprinted from this source in the first full biography of Dalton by Henry, published just 100 years ago.s The original manuscript volume of the "Book of Autographs" has recently come into the possession of one of the present authors (Duveen); the Dalton autobiography is bound in as the first item%nd is here reproduced as a photograph from this source. The text of the manuscript copy differs from the printed version referred to in some details of punctuation, in 1 HENRY, W. C., "Memoirsof the Life and Scientific Researches of John Dalton," London, 1854; A. R. SMITH, "Memoir of John Dalton, and History of the Atomic Theory up to His Time," "John Dalton," London, 1874; London, 1856; H. LONSDALE, H. E. R o s c o ~ ,"John Dalton and the Rise of Modern Chemistry," New York, 1895; H. E. R o s c o ~ ,"A New View of the Origin of Dalton's Atomic Theory; A Contribution to Chemical History, Together with Letters and Document8 Concerning the Life and Labours of John Dalton," London, 1896; J . P. MILUNGTON, "John Dalton," London, 1906; L. J. NEVILLE-POLLEY, "John Dal"John Dalton," London, 1920; E. M. BROCXBANX, ton, Some Unpublished Letters of Personal and Scientific Interest with Additional Information About His Colour-vision and AtomicTheories," Manchester, 1944. This manuscript apparently was never published. HENRY, W. C., op. eit., p. 2. 'The original manuscript "Book of Autographs" is a s m l l the use of "&" instead of "and," in the employment of octavo volume of 75 leaves without titlepage, hound in con- upper-case letters, and in extensive use of abbreviations which are given in full in the printed text. The tempormy . . brown calf. The first leaf is blank, then follow 40 entries (same of several pages) on 52 recto and one verso page, 22 written copy also includes "Manchester" above the blank pages, and one leaf with sn incomplete index, probably date, which is omitted in the printed transcription. It in Roberts' hand. Amone the Demons who wrote into the book during the years 183241, the following m y he mentioned here: is noteworthy that Dalton's autobiography has hut John Dalton, William Henry, N. Pagrtnini, David Cox (with full- 172 words and is characterized by the simplicity and page watercolor), John Murray, Peter Barlow, Charles Bahhage, straightforwardness so typical of its author. The full John Phillips, Heinrich Rose, Edward Turner, Wilhelm K. text from the manuscript follows. Rontgen, David Brewster, Charles Wheatstone, Justus Liebig, The writer of this was born a t the Village of Eaglelesfield ahout m7m. Edward Parry,Alexander Mitchell. Laid in on a separate 2 miles W. of Cockermouth, Cumherland.-Attended the village sheet is a short autograph, signed message of Napoleon 111.
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Schools, there & in the neighbourhood, till 11 years of age, a t which period he had gone through a course of Mensuration, Surveying, Navigation kc.; began ahout 12 to teach the village School & continued it 2 years; afterwards was occasionally employed in husbandry for a yea^ or more:-removed to Kendsl a t 15 years of age as assistant in a Boarding School; remained in that capacity for 3 or 4 years, then undertook the same School as a principal & continued it for 8 years; whilst a t Kendal employed hin leisure in studying Latin, Greek, French, & the Methematics with Natursl Philosophy; removed thence to Mancheater in 1793 tas Tutor in Math. & Nat. Philosophy in the New College: wae 6 years in that Engagement; & after was employed as private & public Teacher of Mathematics & Chemistry in Manchester, but occasionslly by invitation in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham & Leeds. John Dalton Manchester, Octo. 22--1832.
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The second autobiographical summary that Dalton wrote was inscribed to Miss Catherine Johns, the daughter of the family with whom Dalton boarded for 26 years (1805-30).Vhis later sketch was written on February 19, 1833, and is almost identical with the 1832 version with the exception of some minor changes. This suggests that Dalton must have kept a fair copy of his earlier outline and copied directly from it; he may also have made other copies, although none has come to light. The 1833 manuscript is reproduced as a facsimile folding plate in the works of both Henry and Roscoe (1895).' "Mias Johns haa left some interesting notes on Dalton's personal habits; these are quoted in the various biographies listed above.
