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Authorised form of nameWollaston; William Hyde (1766 - 1828); chemist, physicist and physiologist
Dates1766 - 1828
NationalityBritish
Place of birthEast Dereham, Norfolk, England
Date of birth06 August 1766
Place of death1 Dorset Street, London
Date of death22 December 1828
Dates and placesBurial:
The family vault, Chislehurst, Kent
OccupationPhysician
Research fieldChemistry
ActivityEducation:
Charterhouse, Surrey; Caius College, Cambridge. MB (1788); MD (1793)
Career:
Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge; gave up medicine to devote himself to Chemistry; discovered the malleability of platinum
Memberships:
FCP (1795)
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election09/05/1793
Royal Society activityRoyal Society roles:
PRS Jun 1820-Nov 1820; Sec 1804-1816; VP 1820-1828
Medals and prizes:
Copley Medal 1802; Royal Medal 1828
Lectures:
Croonian 1809; Bakerian 1802, 1805, 1812, 1828
RelationshipsGrandson of Francis Wollaston (FRS 1723); third son of Francis Wollaston (FRS 1769); brother of Francis John Hyde Wollaston (FRS 1786); uncle of Alexander Luard Wollaston (FRS 1829); godfather of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (FRS 1874)
SourcesSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Charterhouse Miscellany
References:
John R Levene, 'Sir G B Airy, FRS (1801-1892) and the Symptomatology of Migraine' in NR 1975-6 vol 30 pp 15-23
Sir Harold Hartley, 'A Letter From Richard Phillips, FRS (1778-1857) to Michael Faraday, FRS (1791-1867)' in NR 1965 vol 20 pp 220-223
L F Gilbert, 'W.H. Wollaston MSS at Cambridge' in NR 1952 vol 9 pp 310-332, plate
L F Gilbert, 'The Election to the Presidency of the Royal Society in 1820' in NR 1954-55 vol 11 pp 256-279
J A Chaldecott, 'Contributions of Fellows of the Royal Society to the Fabrication of Platinum Vessels: Some Unpublished Manuscripts' in NR 1967 vol 22 pp 155-172, plate
Donald McDonald, 'Smithson Tennant, FRS (1761-1815)' in NR 1962 vol 17 pp 77-94
N G Coley, 'George Pearson MD, FRS (1751-1828): 'The greatest chemist in England'? in NR 2003 vol 57 pp
161-175
W P Griffith and P J T Morris, 'Charles Hatchett FRS (1765 - 1847), chemist and discoverer of niobium' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 299 - 316
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/67242780
Royal Society codeNA8298
Archives associated with this Fellow
Reference numberTitleDate
EC/1793/05Wollaston, William Hyde: certificate of election to the Royal Society
PT/15/16Paper, 'Observations on naphthaline, a peculiar substance resembling a concrete essential oil, which is apparently produced during the decomposition of coal tar by exposure to a red heat' by J [John] Kidd[1821]
M/136Royal Medal 1836
DM/2/24BDraft letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Benjamin Charles Stephenson, Office of Works18 December 1824
DM/3/79Letter from WH Wollaston, Buckingham Street, to Stephen Lee, Asssistant Secretary, Royal Society10 January 1824
PT/1/8Paper, 'On fairy-rings' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1807]
MS/242/50Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngnd
MS/242/49Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngc. 1799
MS/242/47Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngnd
MM/6/87Letter from Humphry Davy to William Hyde Wollaston25 June 1820
MS/242/48Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngnd
MS/242/51Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngnd
PT/17/3/2Plate, woman posed for portrait facing various directions by unknown artist[1824]
NLB/9/978Copy letter from Theodore E James, to H Lupton, Haslemere, Parkwood Road, Boscombe Park1 August 1894
NLB/1/488Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Mr Dyer, 8 Orchard Street, Portman Square30 June 1887
NLB/8/644Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to A W Hutton, Librarian, National Liberal Club1 December 1893
NLB/37/834Copy Letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison to G Woods Wollaston, College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street21 May 1908
MC/1/286Letter from A. Wollaston, 3 Ellen Court, Temple, to John William Lubbock, Treasurer of the Royal Society 3 March 1831
DM/2/24ADraft of letter from Benjamin Charles Stephenson, Office of Works, to William Hyde Wollaston15 December 1824
MS/251/7Letter from William Hyde Wollaston, to William Buckland, Oxford6 February 1819 [? postmark]
MS/251/11Letter from William Hyde Wollaston, 14 Buckingham Street, Fitzroy Square, to William Buckland, Oxford24 June 1822
MS/251/26Letter from William Hyde Wollaston, 1 Dorset Street, Manchester Square, to William Buckland28 July 1828
MS/251/13Copy letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Henry Wollaston[10 April 1823 ?]
PT/3/16Paper, 'On the identity of columbium and tantalum' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1809]
NLB/65/644Copy letter from Francis Alexander Towle, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society; to E. A. Smith Esq.; Pershore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham3 December 1923
PT/7/15Paper, 'A method of drawing extremely fine wires' by William Hyde Wollaston[1813]
NLB/65/690Copy letter from Francis Alexander Towle, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society; to E. A. Smith Esq.; Pershire Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham7 December 1923
L&P/11/122Paper, 'On double images caused by atmospheric refraction' by William Hyde Wollaston1800
PT/5/6Letter from Alex [Alexander] Marcet to [William Hyde Wollaston]8 January 1811
L&P/12/31Paper, 'On the oblique refraction of Iceland crystals' by William Hyde Wollaston1802
L&P/11/169Paper, 'Experiments on the chemical production and agency of electricity' by Wiliam Hyde Wollaston1801
PT/10/11Paper, 'An essay towards the calculus of functions, Part II' by C [Charles] Babbage8 January 1816
L&P/12/112Paper, 'On the discovery of palladium with observations on other substnces found with platina' by William Hyde Wollaston1805
L&P/12/116Paper, 'The forces of percussion' [Bakerian Lecture] by William Hyde Wollaston1805
L&P/12/80Paper, 'On a new metal found in crude platina' by William Hyde Wollaston1804
L&P/12/37Paper, 'Observations on the quantity of horizontal refraction and method of measuring the dip at sea' [Bakerian Lecture] by William Hyde Wollaston1802
L&P/12/30Paper, 'Method of examining refractive and dispersive powers by prismatic reflection' by William Hyde Wollaston1802
MOB/045Galvanic battery by William Hyde Wollastonc.1813
MM/17/39Letter from Isaac Newton to JF Fauquier 27 July 1720
P/0144Portrait of Wollaston, William Hyde
IM/007117Wollaston, William Hydend
MS/242/46Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Young26 August 1801
MS/242/44Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Young20 November 1800
MS/242/52Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Youngnd
IM/004982Wollaston, William Hyde2001
MC/3/97Letter from Robert Kane, 37 Tavistock Place, to the Secretary of the Royal Society2 June 1840
MS/242/45Letter from William Hyde Wollaston to Thomas Young22 November 1800
IM/007116Wollaston, William Hydend
PT/10/16Paper, 'Observations and experiments on the mass of native iron found in Brasil [Brazil]' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1816]
PT/3/17/1Manuscript, 'Description of a reflective goniometer' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1809]
PT/16/2Paper, 'On metallic titanium' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1822]
PT/3/17/2Plate, detail of lever on goniometer by unknown artist[1809]
PT/5/5Paper, 'On the nonexistence of sugar in the blood of persons labouring under diabetes mellitus' in a letter to Alex [Alexander] Marcet from Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston1 January 1811
PT/8/27Paper, 'On the nature of the salts term'd triple prussiates, and on acids formed by the union of certain bodies with the elements of the prussic acid' by Robert Porrett6 June 1814
PT/6/19Paper, 'On a periscopic camera obscura and microscope' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1812]
PT/7/16/2Plate, diagrams of the single-lens micrometer by William Hyde Wollaston[1813]
PT/7/16/1Manuscript, 'Description of a single-lens micrometer' by William Hyde Wollaston[1813]
PT/9/23Paper, 'An essay towards the calculus of functions' by C [Charles] Babbage[1815]
PT/8/26Paper, 'Observations respecting the natural production of saltpetre [saltpeter] on the walls of subterranean and other buildings' by John KiddFebruary 1814
PT/10/14Paper, 'On the cutting diamond' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1816]
PT/9/2/4Plate, series of roots, powers, and exponents by unknown artist[1814]
PT/9/15Paper, 'On the nature and combinations of a newly discovered vegetable acid with observations on the malic acid and suggestions on the state in which acids may have previously existed in vegetables' by M Donovan[1815]
PT/9/2/1Manuscript, 'Description of a new instrument for performing mechanically the involution and evolution of numbers' by Peter M [Mark] Roget[1814]
PT/9/2/2Plate, four graduated scales by unknown artist[1814]
PT/9/2/3Plate, circular graduated scale by unknown artist[1814]
PT/10/24Paper, 'A new demonstration of the binomial theorem' by Thos [Thomas] Knight[1816]
MC/1/161Letter from William Hyde Wollaston, 1 Dorset Street, to the Royal Society 6 November 1828
PT/14/24Paper, 'On sounds inaudible by certain ears' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1820]
PT/17/3/3Plate, woman posed for portrait facing right and left by unknown artist[1824]
PT/12/18/2Plate, diagrams of modified barometers by unknown artistJuly 1817
PT/12/22Paper, 'Description of an acid principle prepared from the lithic or uric acid' by Wm [William] Prout[1818]
PT/2/7Paper, 'Some account of cretinism' by Henry Reeve[1808]
PT/14/9Paper, 'On the methods of cutting rock crystal for micrometers' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1820]
PT/16/27Paper, 'On the apparent magnetism of metallic titanium' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1823]
PT/12/18/1Manuscript, 'New experimental researches on some of the leading doctrines of caloric particularly on the relation between the elasticity, temperature, and latent heat of different vapours and on thermometric admeasurement and capacity' by Andrew UreJuly 1817
PT/17/3/6Plate, man posed for portrait with compass below figure by unknown artist[1824]
PT/15/2Paper, 'On the magnetic phenomena produced by electricity' in a letter from Sir H [Humphry] Davy to W H [William Hyde] Wollaston12 November 1820
PT/17/3/4Plate, man posed for portrait facing left and right by unknown artist[1824]
PT/17/3/7Plate, man's eyes with nose pointing left and right by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Mr Perkins[1824]
PT/17/3/1Manuscript, 'On the apparent direction of eyes in a portrait' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1824]
PT/4/13Paper, 'On cystic oxide, a new species of urinary calculus' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1810]
PT/17/3/5Plate, man posed for portrait facing right and left by Sir Thomas Lawrence[1824]
PT/2/5Paper, 'On super-acid and sub-acid salts' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1808]
MC/1/275Letter from [Sir David] Brewster, Allerby, Melrose, to Dr. Peter Mark Roget, Secretary of the Royal Society15 January 1831
PT/3/11Paper, 'On platina and native palladium from Brasil [Brazil]' by Wm [William] H Wollaston[1809]
PT/8/1Paper, 'A synoptic scale of chemical equivalents' by Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston[1813]
PT/3/17Paper, 'Description of a reflective goniometer' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1809]
PT/6/7Paper, 'On the primitive crystals of carbonate of lime, bitter-spar, and iron-spar' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1812]
PT/5/1Paper, 'The Croonean [Croonian] Lecture' by William Hyde Wollaston[1809]
PT/7/5Paper, 'The Bakerian Lecture: On the elementary particles of certain crystals' by William Hyde Wollaston[1812]
MC/3Volume 3 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society1839-1843
MC/3/1Letter from L. A. Necker, Prince of Wales Coffeehouse, Leicester Place, to the Royal Society2 January 1839
PT/7/16Paper, 'Description of a single-lens micrometer' by William Hyde Wollaston[1813]
PT/7/7Paper, 'On a method of freezing at a distance' by William Hyde Wollaston[1812]
PT/9/21Paper, 'On the dispersive power of the atmosphere, and its effect on astronomical observations' by Stephen Lee[1815]
PT/9/2Paper, 'Description of a new instrument for performing mechanically the involution and evolution of numbers' by Peter M [Mark] Roget[1814]
PT/15/4Paper, 'Particulars of a fact nearly similar to that related by Lord Morton' by Daniel Giles in a letter to William Hyde Wollaston10 November 1820
PT/15/3Paper, 'Communication of a singular fact in natural history' by the Earl of Morton [George Douglas] in a letter to William Hyde Wollaston12 August 1820
PT/9/14Paper, 'Further analytical experiments relative to the constitution of the prussic, of the ferruretted chyazic, and of the sulphuretted chyazic acids; and to that of their salts, together with the application of the atomic theory to the analysis of these bodies' by Robert Porrett22 February 1815
MC/1Volume 1 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society1800-1831
PT/73/3/4Drawing, periscopic camera obscura by [William Hyde Wollaston]1812
PT/10/15Paper, 'An account of the discovery of a mass of native iron in Brasil [Brazil]' by A F [Aristides Franklin] Mornay in a letter to Wm [William] H [Hyde] Wollaston27 April 1816
PT/3/17/3Plate, diagram of reflective goniometer by unknown artist[1809]
AP/11/18/3Unpublished letter, regarding a new type of bridge from [Bernard] Poyet to the President [William Hyde Wollaston]6 September 1820
AP/9/2Unpublished translation of a letter, regarding electrical experiments from [André-Marie] Ampère to [William Hyde] Wollaston11 October 1820
AP/11/18Unpublished papers and letter, 'Rapport sur les nouveaux ponts en fer forgé et en bois' ['Report on new wrought-iron and wood bridges'] by [Bernard] PoyetFebruary-September 1820
AP/11/18/2Unpublished manuscript, 'Rapport sur les nouveaux ponts' ['Report on the new bridges'] by [Bernard] Poyet5 August 1820
AP/11/18/1Unpublished manuscript, 'Rapport sur un nouveau sisteme [système] de pont' ['Report on new bridge system'] by [Bernard] Poyet14 February 1820
AP/13/22Unpublished paper, 'On the explosion of boilers of steam engines' by Jacob Perkins[1828]
AP/13/20/1Unpublished letter, relating to Parrot's method for repairing a hole in a tunnel from Mc I [Marc Isambard] Brunel to Dr [William Hyde] Wollaston16 June 1828
AP/13/20/2Unpublished manuscript, 'Observations on the plan proposed by Mr Parrot of St Petersbourg [Petersburg] for mending the hole over the tunnel, securing the works against future irruption [upsurges] and in case of any irruption [upsurge], for saving the men' by Mc I [Marc Isambard] Brunel16 June 1828
AP/12/19Unpublished paper, 'An account of some prismatic experiments' by B [Baden] Powell17 November 1825
L&P/11/33Paper, 'On gouty and urinary concretions' by William Hyde Wollaston1797
AP/16/6Unpublished paper, 'On the dispursive [sic] powers of the ordinary and extraordinary spectra found by rock crystal and Iceland spar' by John I Cooper4 June 1832
AP/24/7/1Unpublished paper, 'Modifications of the electric fluid with demonstrative proof of the identity of the galvanic and ordinary electricities by analogical decomposition of water: Paper 1' by John Goodman22 October 1840
MS/957/2Letter from Dr [William Hyde] Wollaston to Mr. Cator [Henry Kater], Union Place29 May [no year]
AP/24/7Unpublished papers, 'Modifications of the electric fluid with demonstrative proof of the identity of the galvanic and ordinary electricities by analogical decomposition of water' by John Goodman22 October 1840 - 18 November 1840
PT/12/18Paper, 'New experimental researches on some of the leading doctrines of caloric particularly on the relation between the elasticity, temperature, and latent heat of different vapours and on thermometric admeasurement and capacity' by Andrew UreJuly 1817
AP/13/20Unpublished paper and letter, 'Observations on the plan proposed by Mr Parrot of St Petersbourg [Petersburg] for mending the hole over the tunnel, securing the works against future irruption [upsurges] and in case of any irruption [upsurge], for saving the men' by Mc I [Marc Isambard] Brunel16 June 1828
AP/13/24Unpublished paper, 'Eclipse of the sun observed at Benares' by James Prinsep[1828]
AP/13/28Unpublished paper, address as President of the Royal Society by Davies Gilbert30 November 1829
PT/17/3Paper, 'On the apparent direction of eyes in a portrait' by Wm [William] Hyde Wollaston[1824]
MC/27/160Letter from J.O Hasted, Brook House, Rickinghall, Diss, Norfolk, to the [Royal Society]November 1912
HS/19/267Observation on solar eclipse, by William Hyde Wollaston1827
HS/18/285Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel1823 to 1828
HS/18/276Letter, from [William Hyde] Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Buckingham Street, Fitroy Square15 July [1766-1820]
HS/18/280Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Buckingham St.1820 or 1826-5-25
HS/26/36Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at 1 Dorset St.27? May 1827
HS/18/279Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel31 March 1825
HS/18/284Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Dorset St.12 May 1827
HS/18/287Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel1823 to 1828
HS/18/277Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel2 June 1823
HS/18/283Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel13 February 1827
HS/18/289Letter, from [William Hyde] Wollaston to Sir John Herschel[1766-1828]
HS/18/281Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at 1 Dorset St.1821 or 1827-1-17
HS/18/288Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Buckingham St.1825 to 1827-?-2
HS/18/290Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Dorset St.1823 to 1828
HS/18/286Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Hotel de Rivoli, No.211 October 1826
HS/18/278Letter, from William Hyde Wollaston to Sir John Herschel, dated at Buckingham St.7 February 1825
HS/18/282Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Hyde Wollaston13 February 1827
MC/1/198Letter from [Edward William] Brayley, Bruce Castle, Tottenham, to Captain Edward Sabine, Secretary of the Royal Society17 February 1830
MS/957/38Letter from William Hyde Wollaston, to [Mary Frances] Kater12 January 1821
MS/957/58Letter from W H [William Hyde] Wollaston, Buckingham Street, Fitzroy Square, to 'My dear Captn' [Henry Kater]16 October 1818
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