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Hereditary Genius
217
Physician Extraordinary to the Queen; whose reputation as an anatomist and
surgeon, especially in midwifery, was of the highest order. He was of a sedate
and studious disposition from youth; was first intended for the Church, but he
took to medicine instead. He formed a splendid anatomical museum. He never
married.
n. Matthew Baillie, M.D., an eminent physician, anatomist, and pathologist.
n. Joanna Baillie, authoress, dramatist, d. aet. 89.
Huyghens, Christian; Dutch astronomer and physicist; one of the eminent
foreigners whom Colbert invited to Paris and pensioned there. He was very
precocious; made great progress in mathematics as a boy; published a
mathematical treatise aet. 22; d. aet. 68 of overwork. Never married.
F, Constantine, a mathematician and a scholar; author of “Monumenta Desultoria;”
Secretary of three Princes of Orange in succession, and though a politician, he
bravely avowed himself the friend of Descartes.
B. Constantine, succeeded his father in his royal secretaryship, and accompanied
William III. to England.
Jussieu, Antoine Laurent de; one of the greatest of botanists, author of the “Natural
System,” and the most eminent member of a very eminent family of botanists.
Became Professor in the Royal Garden aet. 22, and therefore chief to his uncle
Bernard (see below), then 71 years old, who had refused the post, believing
himself happier and more free where he was. There is some doubt how far he
was the interpreter of Bernard's ideas and how far he was original. Became
academician aet. 25. Had a strong constitution; was tall; had the appearance of
a man of thought, always master of himself. Became blind: all the botanists of
his family were very short-sighted. He was simple in his tastes, and had a long
and healthy old age; d. aet. 88. He was descended from a family that had been
notaries generation after generation. His grandfather broke through the
tradition, and became a chemist at Lyons.
[G.] His grandmother had great influence over her numerous children for their good,
in keeping them united and mutually helpful.
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