The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-06
OBITUARY..
WILLIAM RICKETTS, COOPER, +. n. A. s.. ENGLISH
ARCH TOI OGIST

WILLIAM RICKETTS, COOPER +. X. A. s., ENGLISH
ARcHEoLoGIsT.
Assyrian and Egyptian research has sustained Sc
loss by the death at yennor Isle OF Wight NO
vember Is at the early age OF thirty five years OF Mr
William II. Cooper the secretary and principal orlsi
nator OF the Society of Biblical Archaeology. MI
Cooper born in the south of England in 1875 anu
began life a designer of carpet patterns IN LONDON.
lie subsequently resolved 10 devote himsef 20 the
ministry OF the Church of England, and iabored
for considerable time in the missionary creies
OF London. An acquaintance WITH Mr. Josepu
Bonom curator of Sir John soanes Museum, lea 70
his obtaining post in that institution and 10 ms en-
tering with ardor upon the study OF Egyptian archa
ology and mythology, of which he published the hrst
results in the form of small treatise on Serpent
Worship" originally read before the Victoria lnsu
tute as was also another brochure on The Myth OF
Horns" He aided Mr.. Bonomi in preparing the cata
logue of the literary contents OF the Soane museum
and while engaged upon that task conceived the
idea OF resusctating several societies which
had q merely nominal existence and consoi.
dating them into the vigorous young Society OF
Biblical Archaeology which within six years mas
achieved q prominent place among the learned bodies
of the British metropolis His chief colleagues in
the enterprise his venerable friend Bonom who
died last year; Mr. J. W. Bosanquet of Enfield. the
eminent banker and chronologist. who died out few
months since and DR.. Samuel Birch, the veteran
Egyptologst OF the British Museum. The latter gen.
tlemaQ been president OF the society from iiS
beginning and Mr.. Bosanquet was. until
his DEATH its treasurer and liberal pecuni-
airy benefactor, while Mr.. Cooper was Its
indefatigable secretary and most active worker To
him is due the credit of inducing Messrs. s. Bagster
& Sons to publish the well known halfyearly series,
entitled Records OF the Past which alternately de-
voted to TRANSACTIONS of Egyptian and Of Assyrian
texts has already given to the world in twelve small
volumes the most precious existing materials Tor
the history of the tao greatest OF early empires
With Mr.. Bosanquet he was instrumental
in maintaining the annual volume of the
transactions OF the society. which mas published
many OF the cuneform and hieroglyphic texts. in
GLIDING the Deluge Tablets discovered by Mr. George
Smith in Assyria. Mr.. Cooper also secured the SER
vices of Professor A. H. Sayce, of Oxford and OF Pro-
lessor lie Page Renouf. in establishing those free
classes of Assyrian and Egyptian grammar which
have in less than three years trained valiant legion
Of Young Oriental epigraphists. incidentally these
classes led the preparation by Professors Saycc and
Renouf Of their valuable Assyian and Egyptian gram
a popular character. Mr.. Cooper visited the
United states two yearsl since and inspected
the Cypriote treasures of the Metropolitan Museum
with great care He the author of three lectures
respectively entitled, The Resurrection OF Assyra
The Heroines Of the Past and Egypt and the PEN
tatcuch," all published in 1875. and Of IAN Archaic
Dictionary, Biographical Historical and Neurological
from the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments ana
Pspyri." published in 1876. The absorbing charac-
ter OF his labors undermined his health two years
since and compelled him to retire to Ventnor where
he has now died. His memory will be held in high
regard by all Orientalsts AMI also by biblical COM
nentaries for whom his organizing talent procured
wealth of precious data.