Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-27
DEATH OF DR. LARDNER.

The late news from Europe brings intelll-
sencc of the death of DR.. Dionysius Lardner,
whose name is familiar to the public through
his works, and who will he personally remem-
bcrcd by those who made his acquaintance
during his visit to this country.
d.. I.ardner was born in Wexford, Ireland,
on the 2#d Of February, 1920. An accident
during his boyhood, which prevented him from
ndulging in the usual athletic sports Of which
youths are generally so fond, was the means
Of turning his attention TO literary and scicn-
tiiic pursuits. On his recovery he entered
Trinity College, Dublin. and graduated with
honorS. About this time he married Miss Cc-
ella Flood an Irish heireSS from whom he was
subsequently divorced. lie took holy orders,
and was for short period chaplain TO the col
legc: but afterwards ,lcvoting himself to scien-
tiic pursuits, he soon dropped the Rev, pre-
fix to his name In ls27 he WAS elected Pro-
tcs.or Of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy
in the London University, but did not long re-
tain the position, and for the next ten or twelve
years devoted himself to tic publication oil the
Cabinet Cyclopmdia. and to contributing to the
various periodicals Of the day.
In 1910 Dr. I.ardncr came to this country
and after visiting Philadelphia, in 1871, de-
livercl series of popular lectures OH scientific
subjects at the old Clinton Hall, and subsc-
uucntly at NIblo'S. in New York city. These
lectures were remarkably successful, and were
rc.iclivcrcd in the principal towns Of the Uni
ted States In 1915 DR. Iardner returned to
Europc, and has since resided at Paris.
.\s a scientific writer DR.. Lardncr was labo-
rio,,. and painstahng. and. without Offering
any very novel or original theories. was sue
ces>lul cxpostor and compiler. He has pub
lishcd Il number of works and articles ON al
most every department oi science, including
mathematics, i'm its various branches, hydr0a-
tatic>. pncumaiicS, Mesinerism, astronomy,
animal physics. &c. He has also written on
the >tra,n-cngine. though he is chiefly asSsocia'
ted with this branch OF mechanics by his re.
heated assertions that steam navigation could
never bc carried to such a point rs to make II
a paving speculation. 1t has been said that
he deemed the crossing Of the Atlantic by
steam vessels utterly impracticablc, and that
when that mechanical triumph was achieved
he denied ever having said so. But IT appear,
that he merely argued that, as coihuercl"
speculation, transatlantic navisa'ioh co"'''
not become successful.
The private and social lie OF Dr ''" ''''>'
does not bear investigation. When nc came @
to this country he was obliged TO leave hhs .
land on account of his clopcment with airs
Hcavysidc at whose husbands house nc "'lS :
visiting. He subsequently, on the death o.
Captain Heavysidc. married this lady !,
The latest hobby Of DIR. Lardncr was ti,'
use Of scientific Instruments for the wholesale
destruction of human life during the coming
war. lie advocated the introduction OF nc
str,lctvc chemical agents in place oi the ril'
and cannon but whatever plans he may hay
formed, or discoveries nc may have made, II
now impossible to say. lie died in his SIXTY
ninth year.