Prof. M. H. N. Story Maskelyne, F.R.S.

Abstract

PROF. MERVYN HERBERT NEVIL STORY MASKELYNE, whose death on May 20 was announced in last week's NATURE, was born on September 3, 1823, and was the son of Anthony Mervyn Story, F.R.S., who married the only daughter of Nevil Maskelyne, the famous Astronomer Royal. The family is thus one of scientific distinction through three generations, and it is not surprising that Maskelyne was early in life attracted to the study of science. He went to Wadham College, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1845, and even in those early days all his spare time, energy, and resources were devoted to the pursuit of chemistry, at a time when there were very limited facilities for the study of science at the university.