The latter part of his life was passed during
the most troubled period of modern French history. He was a
supporter of the Imperial Dynasty, and during the Commune he
experienced much anxiety; indeed, at one time grave fears were
entertained for his personal safety.
Early in 1877 his health, which had been gradually failing for some
years, began to give way. He appeared to rally somewhat in the
summer, but in September he sank rapidly, and died on Sunday, the
23rd of that month.
His remains were borne to the cemetery on Mont Parnasse in a public
funeral. Among his pallbearers were leading men of science, from
other countries as well as France, and the memorial discourses
pronounced at the grave expressed their admiration of his talents and
of the greatness of the services he had rendered to science.
ADAMS.
The illustrious mathematician who, among Englishmen, at all events,
was second only to Newton by his discoveries in theoretical
astronomy, was born on June the 5th, 1819, at the farmhouse of
Lidcot, seven miles from Launceston, in Cornwall. His early
education was imparted under the guidance of the Rev. John Couch
Grylls, a first cousin of his mother. He appears to have received an
education of the ordinary school type in classics and mathematics,
but his leisure hours were largely devoted to studying what
astronomical books he could find in the library of the Mechanics'
Institute at Devonport.
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