Gregory

Gregory, the name of a Scotch family, the following members of which were eminent: - 1. James (1638-1675), a mathematician, invented the reflecting telescope in 1661, which was in use for more than a century. He was a fellow of the Royal Society, and had much correspondence with Newton and Huygens, the latter of a hostile character. He also published several mathematical works, and was the first professor of the subject at Edinburgh University. He was struck blind by amaurosis while lecturing, and died of apoplexy three days later.

2. John (1724-1773), his grandson, was son of James Gregory, professor of medicine at Aberdeen.

He studied at Edinburgh and Leyden, and was for three years professor of philosophy at Aberdeen. In 1754 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and, on the death of his elder brother James, succeeded him as professor of medicine at Aberdeen. He afterwards removed to Edinburgh, where in 1766 he was elected to the chair of practical physic. He was the author of Elements of the Practice of Physic (1772) and other works. John

Gregory was intimate with Akenside, Hume, Lord Kaimes, and James Beattie.

3. James (1753-1821), the eldest son of John, was born at Aberdeen, and went with his father to Edinburgh in 1764. He studied medicine there and on the Continent, and in 1776 succeeded to his father's chair at Edinburgh. He was eminent alike as a professor and a practitioner, and his lectures on clinical medicine at the Royal Infirmary were alwavs crowded.

4. William (1803-1858), son of the last-named, a distinguished chemist, held professorships at Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh successively.

He translated several of Liebig's works, and was one of the first to propound his theories in England.

5. Duncan Farquharson (1813-1844), another son of Dr. James, was one of the founders of the Chemical Society, and first editor of the Cambridge Mathematical Journal. His important mathematical writings were edited by W. Walton in 1865.