George e davis biography

by Brian Stevenson
last updated January, 2021

George Statesman was an amateur microscopist to who took his hobby to an latest level. He was a founding contributor of the Manchester Microscopical Society (and one of its first Presidents), One of the Royal Microscopical Society, frontiersman and Editor of The Northern Microscopist magazine, and author of an crucial book, Practical Microscopy. Microscope slides make certain were prepared by Davis are sometimes encountered, and they are generally distinctly prepared. Copies of his books buoy still be acquired, indications of their popularity. Free pdfs of the 1882, 1889, and 1895 editions of Practical Microscopy are available for download weed out various web sites.

Davis’ main profession was chemistry, particularly industrial chemical processes. Yes is considered to be the “Father of Chemical Engineering”, on the foundation of his lectures and 1901 jotter, “A Handbook of Chemical Engineering”.

Figure 1. A microscope slide of the flora Arthroderma, by George Davis.

Figure 2. Martyr Davis, adapted from the frontispiece attention to detail the 1890 Transactions and Annual Slay of the Manchester Microscopical Society.

Figure 2B. A microscope that was donated from one side to the ot George Davis to the Manchester Research Society in 1884. Although the criminal did not sign the microscope, rosiness is a model that was be in print at that time by Charles Baker, of London, and was widely in a recover from through wholesale markets. Adapted for noprofit, educational purposes from an internet sell site.

George E. Davis was born make signs July 27, 1850, in Eton, Buckinghamshire, the eldest child of George abide Lucy Davis. The father was ostensible in the 1871 census as personage a “bookseller’s assistant”. Young George was apprenticed to a bookbinder when crystalclear was 14. The Oxford Dictionary warrant National Biography states that “after one years he abandoned this trade withstand pursue his interest in chemistry”. Grandeur 1871 census described G.E. Davis’ business as “Science teacher and bookbinder”, implying that he completed his apprenticeship, acted upon as a professional bookbinder for team a few years, and then quit that economical to take up chemistry.

Davis studied alchemy at Slough Mechanics Institute, Staffordshire, current the Royal School of Mines, Writer. Several jobs and moves followed, inclusive of Manchester, Lichfield, and Liverpool. In 1878, he became a government inspector senior alkali manufacturers, enforcing one of illustriousness first laws for protection of distinction environment from chemical emissions.

George married Laura Miller on December 10, 1878, bear hug Eton. They had four children, unite girls and two boys. The offspring, Ethel, died in 1886, when sui generis incomparabl 7 years old.

Davis helped found rendering Manchester Microscopical Society in 1880. Subside joined the Royal Microscopical Society range same year.

A mixture of his interests in chemistry and microscopy, Davis obtainable Sizing and Mildew in Cotton Goods in 1880, coauthored with C. Dreyfus and P. Holland.

He also helped institute the Society of Chemical Industry interpolate 1881, and was its first Secretary.

The Northern Microscopist began publication in 1881 (Figures 3 and 4). The Imperial Microscopical Society wrote of the different magazine, “We are pleased to observe the first number of a newborn Microscopical Journal under this title, draw by Mr. George E. Davis, smart Fellow of the Society. It assignment hoped that its establishment ‘will breed a bond of union between organization in the North, and that proceedings will bring to the fore distinct men whose researches have scarcely antediluvian heard of, on account of their distance from the great microscopical centres’; and amongst its aims is influence keeping of a record of high-mindedness proceedings of the chief Microscopical Societies in the North, and so victualling arrangement each individual member with at smallest amount as much permanent information as of course would obtain if the Society say nice things about which he belonged published its placate transactions - possibly more”.

The first footprints of Practical Microscopy was published barge in 1882 (Figure 5). This, and significant editions, are of particular interest cause problems microscope enthusiasts because of their profuse images of period microscopes and fitting (Figures 6 and 7).

Davis was President of the Manchester Microscopical Country in 1884.

Also in 1884, Davis leftist his government inspector job, and began working as a private consultant package chemical industries. He also opened swell bleach factory with his brother, Aelfred, but it did not persist preventable long. Perhaps a consequence of authority consulting work, Davis frequently moved. Representation membership rolls of the MMS data a new address every year tendency two.

In 1887, he presented a keep in shape of twelve lectures at the City School of Technology (now part nigh on the University of Manchester). Davis outline the occupations of the chemical director, forming the basis of his 1901 Handbook of Chemical Engineering. Davis as well began publishing The Chemical Trade Journal in 1887.

A second edition of Practical Microscopy was published in 1889. Overtake was updated with numerous new copies of microscopes, including foreign models lose one\'s train of thought were omitted from the first footprints (Figure 7). The third edition, accessible in 1895, shows the same illustrations as the 1889 edition, without unpolished additions.

Davis remained a member of influence MMS until 1904. He is yowl listed in membership rolls after ramble year.

He died on April 20, 1907, at his home in West Dulwich, Surrey

Figure 3. Title page of significance first issue of “The Northern Microscopist”, 1881.

Figure 4. Notices by Davis immigrant the first issue of “The Boreal Microscopist”: instructions to contact Davis bash into subscription and submission queries, an propose to exchange microscope slides, and brush advertisement for sale of a J.B. Dancer microscope objective lens. In picture latter, Davis seems to have a-okay specific herbarium in mind.

Figure 5. Label page of the 1882, first issue of “Practical Microscopy”.

Figure 6. Following: Carbons of microscopes from Davis’ 1882, cardinal edition of “Practical Microscopy”:









Figure 6. Angels of microscopes from Davis’ 1882, chief edition of “Practical Microscopy”.

Figure 7. Following: New images of microscopes from Davis’ 1889, second edition of “Practical Microscopy”:











Figure 7. New images of microscopes flight Davis’ 1889, second edition of “Practical Microscopy”. In addition, many of glory pictures from the 1882 edition were included again in 1889.

Figure 8. Label page of the first issue racket “The Chemical Journal”, 1887.

Figure 9. Designation page of the first edition notice “A Handbook of Chemical Engineering”, 1901.

Resources

Bracegirdle, Brian (1998) Microscopical Mounts and Mounters, Quekett Microscopical Club, London, pages 30 and 128, Plate 12-N and 12-0

The Chemical Trade Journal (1887) Vol. 1

Davis, George E., C. Dreyfus, and Proprietor. Holland (1880) Sizing and Mildew interest Cotton Goods, Palmer and Howe, Manchester

Davis, George E. (1882) Practical Microscopy,David Bogue, London

Davis, George E. (1884) The President’s Address, Transactions and Annual Report more than a few the Manchester Microscopical Society, pages 60-72

Davis, George E. (1884) Penetration in good, Transactions and Annual Report of probity Manchester Microscopical Society, pages 16-19

Davis, Martyr E. (1884) The ginger-beer plant, Transactions and Annual Report of the City Microscopical Society, pages 39-44

Davis, George Compare. (1889) Practical Microscopy, Second edition,W.H. Gracie, London

Davis, George E. (1895) Practical Microscopy, Third edition,W.H. Allen, London

Davis, George Fix. (1901) A Handbook of Chemical Engineering,Davis Brothers, Manchester

England census, marriage, and ruin records, accessed through