New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-20
A Lnnrncrman Printer.


Journeyman Printer.
The Ai5any Dutcbmaa furnishes the following
b7ief biographical sketch Of Mr. JoHN PARKINSON
man whose vast aid various attanmenss
would, but for his secluded habits and innate mod
esty, have long since won fame and fortune The
Learned Blacksmith unwilling that his !igh:
should be hid took the tide at its aood and has
made the most Of bis requirements. But Mt Pat
erson eminent as a Mathematician and a Lin.
gust, having quietly and diligently given his days
TO the space box and his nights to study is com
paratively unknown He IS nevertheless an hon,
or 10 his craft and to his country
Mr. Paterson is native OF New.lersey, having
been born st Morristown. on the Nth of January,
1893 be is therefore ia his 5lst year ~ the
age Of four years, he removed with his parents 70
Canada His father a shoemaker by trade
and died poor; his mother IS still living and re-
sides in Canada. near the city of Hamilton. Mr.
P was apprenticed to an uncle to learn the house.
carpenters business At this employment he con-
tinued about three years, when his uncle met with
reverse Of fortune which compelled his nephew
to pursue some other calling for livelihood,
His next attempt to be useful was as otlice.boy
to a country physician, with whom Mr. ? remain
ed till lie was nearly as well read in Medicine as
Library that Mr.. Patersonis mainly indebted for
the literary tastes by which his after life has been
SO siugularIy distinguished.
Quitting the doctor, we shortly after find him in
Buffalo. where he acted as clerk in drug store
for about three months, when the offers anu well
filed shelves of Salisbury statoner OF that city
induced him o to throw physic to the dogs, and
take n position under the Tree that brought blush.
es and aprons INTO the world--the tree OF knowt'
edge In connection with their bookstore, the
Messrs Salisburys published paper called the
Buffalo Gazette which paper having contained
libel the propretors Were sued, and Judgment
rendered against them for $4,000. They at once
proceeded 10 smuggIe their stock into Nla5ara,
Canada, and sent John there Tor the purpose OF
disposing of it He obtained part OF building
occupied by printer, aud then disposed OF the
stock of books in about eight months.
Being again thrown on his own resources, he
agreed to set type for Mr.. Ferguson, publisher OF
the Niagra Spectator AT thus tlme, the ceie'
brated Robert Gourlay contributed TO its columns,
and being radical reormer he lbeed the GOV
eminent For this species OF enjoyment Mr.
Ferguson was imprisoned, his paper ceased It's ex-
istence while Paterson was again compelled to
seek his fortune elsewhere. 1t was his intention
then to go to Montreal but finding it impossible
10 raise the necessary funds to carry HIM there,
he was compelled to 81 foot it to Black Rock,
and not having means suftcientto pay his errlage
returned to Buffalo. AT this latter city he re-
NAMED three wears, during which time he learG-
ed his trade Ithnt of Il printer In the office OF d.
NJ Dav publisherof the Buffalo Journal After
having visited and worked in number OF places,
he took up his residence in this city, III the year
1922. residence that he has continued to tins
day. His first work in Albany, he found at e. w.
SINNERS.
the year 1886, by Union College.
AS we mentioned last week, Mr. Paterson IS a
81. II ant 1Nl "
thoroughly versed in every branch OF Mathemat
ics but can read and write Greek, Latin, Hebrew
and Arabic with as much ease aud iuency rs ne
can English In the different living languages he
| is equally well posted up, and is probably the only
man on earth who can converse III every language
snoken in Europe His great work, The Calou
luz of Operations" has Just issued from the press
and is ia the opinion OF scientific men, one OF the
most profound productions that the Mathematical
world has yet given to society
From what we have written above, tue reader
will perceiye that Mr., Paterson is not only self
mnde but most persevering man. With no aid
but industry, and no higher salary than that which
| ia bestoWed on a Zimmerman Printer Mr.. Pater-
son has become not only thoroughly acquainted
with every department Of human knowledge, bat
hos acquired handsome little property, aud owns
one of the best select libraries in the city. The
latter contains some 5000 volumes, while It's est
mated worth is put down at 200 dollars
A week ago, we stated that John Paterson OF
Albany, was the most extraordinary man in Ame-
RIGA The above facts, we think, prove it. In
our opinion, nature will produce half dozen
Shaksperes before she produces another man
whose requirements will compare with those be
! longing TO this modest. unpretending printer. To
our young men, the history OF this nnaded genius,
should act as stimulus to exeftion. Having tho
same means OF progression, they should endeaYor
to emulate bis success.
Before we conclude this rather hasty sketch,
we may well render it little more complete,
dren@ the eldest, Eliza is married to Charles G.
Russ, of this city Mr. P still works at Journey
work-his present employer being Joel Maase!l,
OF Safest.