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. He was twenty years old when he entered St.
John's College, Cambridge. His career in the University was one of
almost unparalleled distinction, and it is recorded that his
answering at the Wranglership examination, where he came out at the
head of the list in 1843, was so high that he received more than
double the marks awarded to the Second Wrangler.

Among the papers found after his death was the following memorandum,
dated July the 3rd, 1841: "Formed a design at the beginning of this
week of investigating, as soon as possible after taking my degree,
the irregularities in the motion of Uranus, Which are as yet
unaccounted for, in order to find whether they may be attributed to
the action of an undiscovered planet beyond it; and, if possible,
thence to determine the elements of its orbit approximately, which
would lead probably to its discovery."