New-York daily tribune., 1859-05-20
DEATH OF DIR. LARDNER.

DEATH OF DR. LARDNER.
| Humboldt has scarcely reached his grave; Science
bas not returned from his funeral when another cti
zen Of the world is called from his studies here TO
pursue them elsewhere. We have received the bare
| announcement that DR.. Lardner is dead He has
| euded life which few will now deny was most use
| fu one. With his last breath uukinduess expires
and we remember only the legaces which he has left
US in the form ef popular works that have diffused
and are diffusing knowledge among the young and
the poor.
Dennis Lardner was an attorney, residing and doing
business in Wexford ireland. In that city his eldest
sob, DiOny sius, born the 23d February $780,
Dennis Lardner easy going, Irish attorney, of
the old school, better judge of the points of horse
thsn Of points Of law fond Of his glass; and regarding
the law as Il meals Of getting livelihood. Young
Lardner naturally endowed with vigorous iute
lect, which remained dormant until the age of l6 when
the accidental breaking Of limb by fall from his
horse threw him upon bed Of sickness where, De
prved Of the society Of his boon companions he read
to while the tedious hours away His mind speedily
awOke, and its exercise gave hun new and unusual
pleasure He pursued bis readings, not knowing them
to be studies, and, when he rose from bis sickness
he was HI altered After a brief pr, para
ton, he entered Trinity College, Dublin where
he was admitted as sizar. In this almost
melial rank he rapidly distinguished himself SO
greatly to his services TO be sought az tutor
to many of the richer students. Among these youug
were some who afterward achieved the highest
donors Of the Bar and the Church. Lardner had
passed two years Of his collegiate when he met
Miss Cecilia Flood the natural daughter Of the cec.
brated advocate. The lady not adorned with
great personal charms but Lardners father was dead,
and mother, brother and four sisters were depend
EFT upon him for their support, and Miss Flood had
fortuLe of E5OO, temptation too great for the poor
rzar. From this marriage sprung two sons-Henry,
born in 1916, and George born in 1918. Shortly after
the birth Of George separation took place.
the cause of which is generally ascrbed TO the
lady; some twelve years subsequently divorce was
arpied for by the husband and obtained. About this
period Lardner, who had graduated Nth remarkable
houor, took holy orders, aud became chaplain of the
College an Office be maintained for only brief Pc
Iod however, although he bore the title of the Rev.
Dr. Lardner until 1880, when he allowed the sacer-
dotal prefix to subscc into obscurity. Between 1918
to 1925, be wrote bs best works-hs edition Of the
Elements of Euclid and "rhe Steam Engine"
He also published an Algebra, a work on Comic Sec
tions, and an Integral and DfrrentiA Calculus none
of which were remarkable. He was Lecturer on
aud here exhibited that peculiar power Of imparing
know ledge and that camness Of illustration, which
subsequently, became the basis Of his wide popu-
laiity.
The London University was founded in 1925 By the
Reform party. Henry Brougbam, then in the zenith
Of lis popularity desired to support it with all the
vigorous young talent of tue day. Among the FIRST TO
wi ON he applied was Dionysius Lardner, TO whom
he offered the chair of Natural Philosophy aud AS
trouomy. Larlper left Dublin and in 1926 began MS
career in England. The University soon fell into
difficulties 1t failed to obtain any prestige, and
did not serve es political coun'erPoise to oX-
ford and Cambridge, as its founders had hoped.
Laroper soon vacated his chair, and turned
bis attention TO new form OF literature.
Education had enlarged the reading public, until 1t
had utgrown the means of supply. The cumbrous-
ness Of educational works did not suit this new class
of readers, who sought knowledge and Information
more than learning. To increase and promote the
intelligence of the lower class was OF emoen' potical
importance to the Reform patty and from this prnci-
pie sprung the Society for the Diffusion OF Cseiui
Know ledge aud those myraas of publications which
have made literature and science the property of all
Lacner suggested to Brougham the idea of the Penny
| Magazine a work which subsequently carried
out without bis cooperation and may be regarded as
NN-'~ NN-NN
| he founded the Cabinet Cyclopeds. To this
voluuinous and admirable work he brought the as
s,tarce and collaboration of Sir Humphrey Davy Sir
Walter Scott Moore the poet Sir James Macintosh,
Southey SsmonOi, and other men Of eminence.
volume per month was emitted from the Press at the
snall price Of dollar aod half. IIs was
hey ond the calculation of the publishers To this
Cvclopadia Lardner contributed some of the most
valuable essays, HI ydcostatics aud Pneumatics,
"Geomeiiy," "Heat." From 1891 to 1889 his time
was occupied in travelling through the manufacturing
cities of the middle and uortht m counties of England
delivering lectures ON various scientific subjects, in
cudipc Mesmerisn with q belief in which he became
in,bued in 1886. In this year Henry, his eldest
committed suicide by drowning himself in the Ser
peutine River near his fathers residence. Dr. Lsrd
her had now only one son. for whom he obtained from
the English Government commission in the COM
mssariat in which branch of the military service he
still remains.
Itwss in the winter of 1889 when DIR. Lsrdner
about 4s years of age that he accepted an invitation
from wealthy gentleman named Captain Heavyside
to spend some days with bis family al their house in
Brighton. During this visit, he became enamored ot
the wife of his bos and shortly afterward the world
asiounded with the news that the Doctor had
eoped with the lady. The history of this affair too
well known to need repetition. Captain Heavyside
sued DR.. La'dner for damages, and obtained ver-
dict for $4,000
In 1910 the Doctor came with Mrs. Heavyside to
the United States where his career was pecuniarily
successful He suffered considerably, however, from
the attacks Of The N. y. Herald but, With the dipo