LORD AVEBURY

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13736, 30 May 1913, Page 5

LORD AVEBURY

London, May 28,

The death has occurred of Lord Ave> bury, whose serious illness was announced yesterday.

Bettor known ,as Sir John Lubbock, Lord Averbury was one of the foremost English men of letters. He was born in 1834, being the son of Sir John William Lubbock, Bt., whom he succeeded in 1865. Ho was educated at Eton, and was a D.C.L. of Oxford, LL.D. of Cambridge, Ediriburgh, and Dublin, and M.D. of Wurzburg. His family had been connected with the banking' business for many years, and when he left Eton he ontored his father's bank in Lombard street, becoming a partner in the establishment in 1856. So high was his professional reputation that ho held sevoral positions of distinction in the Association of London Bankers, and the Institute of Bankers, and was nominated by the Crown to serve on the International Coinage Commission. He was also a member of several other Royal Commissions at different times. I It was. however, by his researches regarding the ancient" vestiges and remains of man that Sir John Lubbock most distinguished himself. His works, "Prehistoric Times," published in 1865, and "The Orgin of Civilisation," in 1870, went through several editions, and were followed by a number of works on natural history. His most popular works wore "The Pleasures of Life," and the "Use of Life," of the first no fewer than thirty editions being called for. Sir John Lubbock was a member of a number of learned societies, and was chosen as president of the British Association in its jubilee year (18S1). He also occupied the, presidency of the- Linnacn Ethnological and Entomological Societies, and was a vice-president of the Royal Society." Sir John Lubbock had also a distinguished career in politics. He was twice elected to represent Maidstono in the House of Commons, and in _ 1880 he was returned for the University of London, for which ho sat until 1900, j when ho was created a peer. He introduced and succeeded in having placed on the statute book no fewer than 34 measures of importance. In 1877 he moved the "previous question" to Mr Gladstone's famous resolutions on the Eastern question. He was a trusteei of the British Museum, and for eight years Vice-Chancellor of London University, resigning that office when he \vits returned to represent the University in Parliament. On the formation of the County Councils he was elected for the City by the largest majority recorded for any candidate throughout the country. Pie was unanimously elected vice-chairman of tho London County Council, and in 1890 he succeeded Lord Rosebery as chairman, holding the position for two years. He was president of the London Chamber of Commerce from 1888 to 1893. Lord Avebury's heir is his son, the Hon. John B. Lubbock.