Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy | Page 8

as possible
the work done at the Observatory, and to take the public into his
confidence. And this he effected by articles communicated to
newspapers, lectures, numerous Papers written for scientific societies,
reports, debates, and critiques.
His strong constitution and his regular habits, both of work and
exercise, are sufficient explanation of the good health which in general
he enjoyed. Not but what he had sharp touches of illness from time to
time. At one period he suffered a good deal from an attack of eczema,
and at another from a varicose vein in his leg, and he was occasionally
troubled with severe colds. But he bore these ailments with great
patience and threw them off in course of time. He was happy in his
marriage and in his family, and such troubles and distresses as were
inevitable he accepted calmly and quietly. In his death, as in his life, he
was fortunate: he had no long or painful illness, and he was spared the
calamity of aberration of intellect, the saddest of all visitations.
CHAPTER II.

FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS TAKING HIS B.A. DEGREE AT
CAMBRIDGE.
FROM JULY 27TH 1801 TO JANUARY 18TH 1823.
George Biddell Airy was born at Alnwick in Northumberland on July
27th 1801. His father was William Airy of Luddington in Lincolnshire,
the descendant of a long line of Airys who have been traced back with
a very high degree of probability to a family of that name which was
settled at Kentmere in Westmorland in the 14th century. A branch of
this family migrated to Pontefract in Yorkshire, where they seem to
have prospered for many years, but they were involved in the
consequences of the Civil Wars, and one member of the family retired
to Ousefleet in Yorkshire. His grandson removed to Luddington in
Lincolnshire, where his descendants for several generations pursued the
calling of small farmers. George Biddell Airy's mother, Ann Airy, was
the daughter of George Biddell, a well-to-do farmer in Suffolk.
William Airy, the father of George Biddell Airy, was a man of great
activity and strength, and of prudent and steady character. When a
young man he became foreman on a farm in the neighbourhood of
Luddington, and laid by his earnings in summer in order to educate
himself in winter. For a person in his rank, his education was unusually
good, in matters of science and in English literature. But at the age of
24 he grew tired of country labour, and obtained a post in the Excise.
After serving in various Collections he was appointed Collector of the
Northumberland Collection on the 15th August 1800, and during his
service there his eldest son George Biddell Airy was born. The time
over which his service as Officer and Supervisor extended was that in
which smuggling rose to a very high pitch, and in which the position of
Excise Officer was sometimes dangerous. He was remarkable for his
activity and boldness in contests with smugglers, and made many
seizures. Ann Airy, the mother of George Biddell Airy, was a woman
of great natural abilities both speculative and practical, kind as a
neighbour and as head of a family, and was deeply loved and respected.
The family consisted of George Biddell, Elizabeth, William, and Arthur
who died young.

William Airy was appointed to Hereford Collection on 22nd October
1802, and removed thither shortly after. He stayed at Hereford till he
was appointed to Essex Collection on 28th February 1810, and during
this time George Biddell was educated at elementary schools in writing,
arithmetic, and a little Latin. He records of himself that he was not a
favourite with the schoolboys, for he had very little animal vivacity and
seldom joined in active play with his schoolfellows. But in the
proceedings of the school he was successful, and was a favourite with
his master.
On the appointment of William Airy to Essex Collection, the family
removed to Colchester on April 5th 1810. Here George Biddell was
first sent to a large school in Sir Isaac's Walk, then kept by Mr Byatt
Walker, and was soon noted for his correctness in orthography,
geography, and arithmetic. He evidently made rapid progress, for on
one occasion Mr Walker said openly in the schoolroom how
remarkable it was that a boy 10 years old should be the first in the
school. At this school he stayed till the end of 1813 and thoroughly
learned arithmetic (from Walkingame's book), book-keeping by double
entry (on which knowledge throughout his life he set a special value),
the use of the sliding rule (which knowledge also was specially useful
to him in after life), mensuration and algebra (from Bonnycastle's
books). He also studied grammar in all its branches, and geography,
and acquired some knowledge of English literature, beginning with that