NOTABLE ANNIVERSARIES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14187, 30 October 1911, Page 7

NOTABLE ANNIVERSARIES.

OCTOBER 29. Sir Walter Raleigh beheaded 1619 Eiimucd Halley, astronomer (Halley's Comet), born • ■ ■ • - 165G 'James Unwell, biographer of Johnson, born 1"«> John Kratf, pott, born -- - - I'os Leech, "Punch" artist, died -- -- IS6-I

Edmund Halley—The famous astronomer was born near London, and received a liberal education. He showed a decided bout towards mathematics and astronomy at an early age. and in his 20th year published a paper on the orbits of the principal planets; also observations on a spot on tho sun, from which ho inferred the sun's rotation on its axis. With Cassini he made observations in 1682 on the great comet which goes by his name. He first proved that many cf the appearances of comets wero but periodical returns, and he demonstrated that tho comet of 1682 was tho comet, of 1456, 1531. and 1607, deducing this fact from, a minute observation of the first-mentioned comet, being struck by its wonderful resemblance to the comets described as having appeared in thor© years. He therefore first fixed the identity of comets, and predicted their periodical returns. Halley was connected with many other important discoveries, not only in astronomy, but in many other directions. He became Astronomer-Royal, and died at tho ripe ago of eightysix.

John Leech.—Th© well-remembered draughtsman of "Punch" was of Irish descent and born in London. Ho was a fellow pupil of Thackeray's at the Charterhouse, and retained Thackeray's friendship throughout life. He first of all tried tho medical jjrofession, but ere long adopted art for a livelihood. At 18 he published "Etchings and Sketchings, by A. Pen, Esq.," and in his 24th year sent in his first contribution to "Punch," with which journal ho was to bo connected till the day of his death. In his humorous sketches of evcry-day lifo, as has been said, "he has entered with genial sympathy into every phase of tho many-sided Engh'sh life "of the hunt-ing-field, tho seaside, the ball-room, tho drawing room, and tho nursery; ho has turned caricature into character, and left behind him not a little of the history of his time and its follies sketched with inimitable grace." Leech did not oonfino his attentions to "Punch," but enlivened many other "hooks, with his genius, the""Comic History of England," tho "Comic History of Rome," tho Christmas books of Dickens etc. His work overtaxed his strength and his powers, and he died in his 47th year.