Person Children; John George (1777 - 1852); British chemist Children John George British chemist 1777 - 1852 British Male Ferox Hall, Tonbridge, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe 18 May 1777 1777 Halstead Place, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe 1 January 1852 1852 Burial: St George's Church, Bloomsbury, London, England, Europe (9 January 1852)

Ferox Hall, Tonbridge, Kent (1777-1816)

Mineralogy Zoology Education: Tonbridge School; Eton School; Queen's College Cambridge (1795-1798) Career: Studied mechanics and mineralogy; constructed the largest yet galvanic battery (1813); attempted to set up a gunpowder business with Humphry Davy; family declared bankruptcy (1816); appointed Assistant Librarian in Department of Antiquities at the British Museum; transferred to department of natural history (1822); translated Lamarck's 'Genera of Shells' (1824); became editor of the 'Zoological Journal' and of 'Quarterly Journal of Science'; established the Zoological Club at the Linnean Society (1826) Memberships: Fellow of the Royal Society Edinburgh; Fellow of the Linnean Society; Royal Entomological Society (founding member and later president) Medals/Awards: Royal Institution Medal (1828) Parents: George Children and Susanna Jordan Married: 1) Hester Anna Holwell; 2) Caroline Furlong Wise; 3) Eliza Towers Children: Anna Atkins Children's work involved collaboration with Humphry Davy in the laboratory the former established at Ferox Hall. His appointment to the department of natural history, specialising in zoology, was considered controversial by some at the time and, as a non-specialist, he relied on and worked closely with his assistant and later successor John Edward Gray. Shortly after the death of his first wife in 1800, he travelled to Portugal and North America. He is additionally listed as a Freemason (27 March 1835) on the 'Alphabetical List of Fellows of the Royal Society who were Freemasons' under the address of the British Museum, Lodge of Antiquity No. 2. After his death, his daughter, well-known botanist and photographer, published a memoir on him, including some of his poetry on domestic things and religion. Royal Society roles: Secretary 1826-1827, 1830-1837; VP 1837-1839 Committee and panels: Committee of Chemistry (31 May 1837) Fellow 12/03/1807 29 Appointed as auditor of the Treasurer's accounts (15 November 1838) Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; ODNB; The Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Freemasons and the Royal Society; Alphabetical List of Fellows of the Royal Society who were Freemasons (2010), page 19 Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1850-1854 vol 6 pp 245-247 References: Coley, N G. 1967. 'The Animal Chemistry Club; Assistant Society to the Royal Society', in Notes and Records, vol. 22, pp. 173-185 Children J G, IM006840.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspl.1850.0087 RCN: R65922 RCN: 27957 RCN: 33108 RCN: 18585 18 May 1777 - 1 Jan 1852 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 20/10/2021 as part of Name Authority Project update. NA3175 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/106836469 60234769-b788-4fe6-a435-442b41a5a7db