James Lockhart

**James Lockhart** was born on the 26 July 1763 and baptised 19 August 1763 at St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, London, England. His father, also James Lockhart, of Melchett Park, County Wilts and Shortfield House, near Rumsey, Hants, was formerly a partner-banker at the west end of London. He was a descendant of the old Scottish family of that name, and on the female side from the sister of Oliver Cromwell - Miss Gray (a member of the Society of Friends). He married Mary Harriot L. and they had three children. John Lockhart [b.1763] was the eldest child, and received early education at Reading School, whence sometime after he went to Eton College, and was there at the same time with the late Duke of Wellington, and his own younger brother John Ingram Lockhart (1766-1835) who was later a Member of Parliament for Oxford. John Lockhart was, from his earliest youth, fond of study, and when he left Eton College (after an apparently unsuccessfully standing (1)) was considered a very proficient scholar in Latin and Greek, and noted for his Latin versification, a fondness for which he retained throughout his life. On leaving Eton he entered his father's bank, in which he subsequently became a partner. While here, he originated Castle Insurance Company. Being of cheerful and communicative disposition, and possessed early ample means, he entered much into society. On retiring from the banking business in 1799, he settled with his family amidst the romantic scenery of the lake district on the banks of Windermere, after losing his wife. This lady was the daughter of Mr. Coxe of Philadelphia, a very extensive owner of land in America, which, however, was wholly forfeited during the American revolution, owing to Mr. Coxe's siding with the royalists. By this wife he had three daughters and one son. Amidst the repose of this charming scenery he began more zealously to study mathematics, and kept up a constant correspondence with Francis Maseres (1731–1824), Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847), Peter Barlow (1776-1862), the late William Frend (1757-1841), and Dr. Isaac Milner (1750-1820), President of Queen's College, Cambridge. There he also formed the acquaintance of Dr. Richard Watson (1737–1816), the learned Bishop of Llandaff. About 1801 there appeared a singular work, which much amused the reading world, entitled Dr. Syntax. It was James Lockhart who suggested the idea of this work to its author, William Coomb (1741-1823). In the year 1805 he married his second wife. By this lady, who was much younger than himself, he had eight children,— six sons and two daughters. In 1819 he left the north of England for Holland, to give his numerous family the benefit of a more general education. After passing some time at Leyden, he purchased a comfortable house and large garden in the pleasant suburbs of the ancient town of Haarlem. Here he devoted, with untiring patience, the greater portion of his time to the education of his younger children, in which a knowledge of arithmetic ever formed the basis. Any one, however old, young, poor, or rich, who was fond of mathematics, immediately won his friendship; and many were the young persons to whom he gave mathematical instruction, not any pecuniary remuneration, but for the mere love of the science the so much admired. In this matter his zeal was unbounded; and many there are still living, here as well as abroad, who have to, thank him as the founder of their prosperity. Among his earliest pupils in this way we may mention Dr. Joshua King (1798-1857), who became President of Queen's College, Cambridge. This boy he discovered to be a genius, and, under his private tuition, in his leisure hours, made considerable proficiency in French and mathematics. John Lockhart was instrumental in sending this young man to Queen's College, Cambridge, with a letter of recommendation to his friend Dr. Isaac Milner (1750-1820), then President of Queen's College, remarking, "*I herewith send you a norther