The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Richard Waller (1660 - 1715)

Natural philosopher, translator, and member of the Royal Society, serving as secretary and editor of the Philosophical Transactions 1691-1693 and served again as secretary 1710-1714. Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/48707?docPos=16 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Waller_(d._1715) Other Links: https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/s/rs/people/viaf_107707317 - Relationships: Richard Waller was a member of Royal Society (-)
Richard Waller was a friend of Edward Tyson (20 Jan 1651-1 Aug 1708)

Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
as Mentions or references - London in 1710, from the Travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach .
as Subject of/in a document - Biographical Notes - Richard Waller (about 1650-1715).
References in Documents:
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
Tajacu seu Aper Mexicanus Moschiferus, or the Anatomy of the Mexico Musk-Hog, &c. [By the Learned and Ingenious Edward Tyson M. D. Fellow of the College of Physicians and of the Royal Society.]

THisThis Animal being so much a stranger to our Nation; and its inward organs, at least some, so odd, and remarkable; I am willing to deliver my observations of it. They are rude, and very inperfect, yet such as they are, I the rather venture abroad, since it may be, I may never have an opportunity of compleating them.

The occasion of my making these, was afforded me, by my very good friend Dr. Goodall, a Fellow of the Colledg of Physicians, and a great lover of the same, who accidentally meeting with it, when dead: procured it for our private dissection at our Theater; and afterwards more leasurely examining it, at the Repository of the Royal Soci [360] ety; and having the assistance of my ingenious Friend R. Waller Esq. and Mr. Hunt in making the Figures; I think I may be able to give some better notice of it, than what hitherto we have recieved.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

White Cylindrical Pillars in a dark coloured Stone from Towneley in Lancashire. Don. Car. Towneley Gen These are near two Inches round. Another of a bright glossy black, with white Cylinders as small as Brush Iron. But the most remarkable is a Boulder, accidentally broken in paving the Court of William Cookson Esq; the present Mayor of Leedes, whereby were discovered two Mathematical Figures, viz. an Oval within a Quadrangle in red Lines upon a yellow Ground. Kircher, in his Mundus Subterraneus, gives an Account of certain Geometrical Figures, naturally imprinted upon Stones; but I have not the Opportunity in these remote Parts to consult that Author. A transparent Peble with the exact Resemblance of a Coat of Arms, viz. an Orle of three Pieces with an Inescochean. Another Peble hath an Orange Oval in a white Stone. A blewish Stone with twelve Rows of protuberant Lozenges, set most regularly in the QuincuuxQuincunx Order. Another which hath been a Mold as it were to the former, the Squares being hollow, and the Rows protuberant; it was found at the Coal-Pits near Beiston, and given me by Alderman Askwith. A white Stone from Weetwoodside with Rows of perforated Holes regularly placed at half Inch distance from each other. A Cylindrical Stone wrought quite round, with Ridges and Furrows the length Way of the Stone, the Rigs (to use the Local Word) thick set with Knobs. A small one of 29 Rigs that was found in the midst of a great Stone near Kirkstall, and given me by Mr. Tho. Dinsdale. Another with transverse Wreaths, and a Protuberance above the Neck, that, without much Stretch of Fancy, resembles the Head of a Quadruped. Another with Rows of Holes, and in the midst of each a small raised Point. A large one near half a Yard long, and a Foot thick, of the like Work, but as to the Form, tapering like the Branch of a Tree; and seems, by a Seam, and part of a Joint remaining near the Top, to have had an Out-branch springing from it, which would tempt one to think that even these large rough Stones do sometimes shoot forth like the tender Rock-Plants in Mendip Hills, so accurately figured by Rich. Waller Esq; (e)(e) Phil. Trans. N° 150.. These I had from Madam Leighton's Quarry at Great Woodhouse. A large round Stone, but somewhat compress'd, deeply chanell'd, not unlike the Radix of those Rock-Plants: This (which was brought me from Craven) is almost a Yard in Circumference, fit for so large a Stem as the last described. Don. Rev. Mil. Gale. Two small ones, with white Veins or Chanels, the larger about three Inches round, the other not two. Some of these might perhaps have been more aptly placed amongst the Formed Stones, but their Circumscriptive Form not being Regular, they were omitted.

London in 1710, from the travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach

ROBERT HOOKE, the experimentalist, astronomer, inventor and chemist; F.R.S., 3 June, 1663. He was perpetual Curator of the Royal Society. In 1667 he was appointed surveyor of the City of London. He was an extraordinarily able mechanic. He was Secretary of the Royal Society from October 1677 to November 1682.

John Aubrey wrote: 'He is but of middling stature, something crooked, pale faced, and his face but little belowe, but his head is lardge: his eie full and popping, and not quick; a grey eie.' Aubrey had the highest opinion of Hooke, eccentric as Aubrey's views were.

He was born on 19 July, 1635, according to John Aubrey.

Hooke was a leading inventor of balance-springs for watches. The Posthumous Works of Robert Hooke, by RichardWailerWaller, 1705, should be referred to.