Book contents
- Frontmatter
- TO THE READER
- Contents
- CHAP. I BIRTH, EARLY LIFE, AND A TEACHER OF YOUTH
- CHAP. II CAREER AS A PUBLIC LECTURER ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
- CHAP. III APPOINTMENT IN THE BRITISH EMBASSY TO CHINA—VOYAGE TO AND ARRIVAL AT PEKIN
- CHAP. IV RESIDENCE AT PEKIN
- CHAP. V DEPARTURE FROM PEKIN AND JOURNEY TO CANTON
- CHAP. VI RESIDENCE IN CANTON
- CHAP. VII TERMINATION OF THE EMBASSY—VOYAGE TO AND ARRIVAL IN INDIA
- CHAP. VIII RESIDENCE IN INDIA, AND APPOINTMENT AS PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM
- CHAP. IX RETURN TO ENGLAND—DEATH
- LETTERS
CHAP. I - BIRTH, EARLY LIFE, AND A TEACHER OF YOUTH
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- TO THE READER
- Contents
- CHAP. I BIRTH, EARLY LIFE, AND A TEACHER OF YOUTH
- CHAP. II CAREER AS A PUBLIC LECTURER ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
- CHAP. III APPOINTMENT IN THE BRITISH EMBASSY TO CHINA—VOYAGE TO AND ARRIVAL AT PEKIN
- CHAP. IV RESIDENCE AT PEKIN
- CHAP. V DEPARTURE FROM PEKIN AND JOURNEY TO CANTON
- CHAP. VI RESIDENCE IN CANTON
- CHAP. VII TERMINATION OF THE EMBASSY—VOYAGE TO AND ARRIVAL IN INDIA
- CHAP. VIII RESIDENCE IN INDIA, AND APPOINTMENT AS PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM
- CHAP. IX RETURN TO ENGLAND—DEATH
- LETTERS
Summary
The individual whose life is here attempted to be traced derives his descent from ancestors long settled in the parish of Tinwald, near Dumfries. In this parish the farm of Kirkland had been in the occupation of the family from an early period in the life of his great-grandfather. The name was originally spelt Dinwoody, or Dinwoodie, which the Doctor, when a very young man, modernized as it is written upon the title page. His parents, John Dinwoody and Catharine Riddick, were humble, and cultivated the small farm already mentioned. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, all born on the premises. The subject of the following Memoir, their youngest child, came into the world an orphan on the 8th December, 1746, more than half a year after the father had been consigned to his grave. The eldest son was then but twelve years old, and a heavy burden devolved upon an industrious mother, who was exceedingly interested in the welfare of her youngest child. So soon as he was able the orphan James had to take a share in the duties of the farm, by looking after the cattle, and such other tasks as suited his tender years. A neighboring village supplied the first rudiments of learning, but the system of education pursued at small country schools is seldom calculated to “teach the young idea how to shoot.”
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Biographical Memoir of James Dinwiddie, L.L.D., Astronomer in the British Embassy to China, 1792, '3, '4,Afterwards Professor of Natural Philosophy in the College of Fort William, Bengal, pp. 1 - 3Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010