434 Results in the "Biography & Memoir" category


    • Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin is a biography written by his friend and colleague, Sir William Kingdon Clifford, published posthumously in 1887. It chronicles the life of Fleeming Jenkin, a Scottish engineer, mathematician, and philosopher, highlighting his contributions to science, his intellectual pursuits, and his personal character. The memoir offers a portrait of a brilliant and dedicated scholar.
    • Chapter I – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter I - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin begins with a detailed exploration of the Jenkin family’s rich historical roots in Kent, England, tracing their lineage back to the Tudor era. Their ancestry, extending through Welsh and Yorkshire branches, reveals a longstanding connection with civic responsibility and local leadership. William Jenkin, who served multiple times as Mayor of Folkestone, symbolizes the family’s influence, further demonstrated by their acquisition of Stowting Court—a manor that…
    • Chapter II – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter II - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin begins by tracing the origins of Fleeming Jenkin’s character through a childhood marked by instability, reflection, and nurturing influences. Born in 1833 in a modest coastguard station in Kent, his early years were shaped by frequent moves and separations due to his parents’ obligations. These transitions placed him under the care of relatives, exposing him to contrasting environments—his grandmother's hardship left a somber mark, while his Aunt Anna’s gentle…
    • Chapter III – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter III - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin presents the critical phase between 1851 and 1858, when Jenkin’s development as an engineer, thinker, and partner took shape. After the passing of Aunt Anna, his family relocated from the sunlit familiarity of Genoa to the smoke-laden streets of Manchester. This transition exposed him to the gritty realism of industrial Britain, contrasting sharply with the colorful vibrancy he had known. Yet, rather than feel diminished, Jenkin thrived—immersing himself in an…
    • Chapter IV – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter IV - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin traces a decade of profound personal and professional development, capturing the years 1859 to 1868 with depth, grace, and emotional resonance. The chapter opens with Fleeming’s sudden yet heartfelt marriage to Miss Austin at Northiam—a union that, although hastily arranged, reflects a deep mutual affection and family unity. Their marriage quickly became the foundation of Jenkin’s emotional and moral life, even as professional obligations called him back to…
    • Chapter I – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter I - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin opens a window into the years between 1858 and 1873, tracing Jenkin’s vivid correspondence during his telegraphic expeditions. His early letters to Miss Austin, and later to his wife, reflect more than technical achievements—they pulse with personal conviction and warmth. Even while battling sea-sickness and shouldering intense workloads, Jenkin conveys an undiminished enthusiasm for both his mission and the world around him. Each letter reveals a man alive to the…
    • Chapter II – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter II - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin traces the momentum of several pivotal cable-laying missions that carried both technical gravity and the spirit of maritime exploration. On July 2, Jenkin notes that 28 miles of telegraph cable have been successfully coiled into the hold of the ELBA, marking a logistical milestone in their operation. With precision, he accounts for the ship’s draft and the remaining cable’s weight, underlining how each figure contributed to the calculated rhythm of progress. Just…
    • Chapter III – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter III - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin opens with a vivid journey through the rocky charm of the Greek isles, where the land may be sparse, but the spirit of the people is rich and enduring. Jenkin is struck by the region’s potential, particularly in the quiet strength of the sailors and the striking simplicity of village life. One night, an impromptu boating trip becomes an unplanned test of endurance when his ship, the ELBA, departs prematurely. Left behind, Jenkin and his group row tirelessly to…
    • Chapter IV – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter IV - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin recounts a critical episode during one of Jenkin’s cable-laying missions, filled with uncertainty and engineering risk. Off the coast, his team attempts to retrieve a compromised section of undersea cable that has shown signs of deterioration. With cautious optimism, they lower dredging equipment, fully aware that any further strain could snap the already fragile line. The tension builds as the cable, strained and worn by sea conditions, is brought aboard inch by…
    • Chapter V – Memoir of fleeming Jenkin Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter V - Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin revisits a physically demanding but ultimately rewarding episode in Jenkin’s telegraphy work. Aboard ship and suffering from illness, he endured difficult conditions while dealing with the technical challenge of a cable falling sixty yards short of its intended landing point. The shortfall could have meant failure, but Jenkin and his team adapted, managing to complete the connection to the telegraph station. Despite pain and fever, he witnessed the success as the…
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