Obituary notices of fellows deceased

Abstract

The Harleys can be traced back to a Norse stock of Harlas. Robert Harley’s family was settled in Dunfermline for hundreds of years. His father, Robert Harley of Dunfermline, began life as a merchant with property bequeathed to him by his uncle, Sir William Mitchell (a Vice-Admiral who fought with Nelson), but he gave up a good business in Scotland to become a Wesleyan minister in England. His mother was Man Stevenson, niece of General Stevenson of Ayr. They were living at Seacombe, near Liverpool, when Robert Harley was born (January 23, 1828). When a small boy he was devoted to swimming but found arithmetic the most irksome of his studies. He was in this respect very backward, but seems suddenly to have developed talent and enthusiasm while at school at Blackburn, which led to his accepting a post as mathematical master at a Seacombe school when he was only 16. Shortly after this he was attracted by the mathematical problems which were appearing in 'The Lady's and Gentleman’s Diary.' His interest in the solutions had one very important result, for it brought him into contact with a young barrister, nine years his senior—James Cockle—who later became a distinguished mathematician, a knight, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and Chief Justice of Queensland. They became life-long friends, and there is no doubt that his scientific work was more influenced by Sir James Cockle than by any other single individual who could be named. When Sir James died in 1895 Mr. Harley wrote the obituary notice for the Royal Society's ‘Proceedings.’ At the age of 17 he returned, as head assistant-master, to his old school at Blackburn. This was kept by William Hoole, J. P., a well-remembered mayor of the town, by whom Viscount Morley of Blackburn and many others who have since risen to distinction were educated. At the age of 23 he determined to be a minister, and became a divinity student at Airedale College, Bradford, and on completing his course accepted a call to become minister of the Independent Chapel at Brighouse, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. When he was 26 he married Sara Shoyan, niece of Mr. Hoole, and daughter of James Shoyan of Wigan, also of Scottish extraction, and lived happily with her for fifty-one years. He served at Brighouse for fourteen years. His four children, two sons and two daughters, were all born there. His congregation built him a comfortable manse and a much larger chapel. He laboured strenuously for the good of the growing village, preaching in the open air with his friend William Booth, afterwards famous as the Father of the Salvation Army. He started Penny Readings for the poor, and himself took part in them every Saturday night. He was much beloved by the people, and Harley Street, Harley Court and Harley Place remain to link his memory with the now prosperous town. During the last four years of his Pastorate at Brighouse he was professor of Mathematics and Logic at his old college, Airedale (now the United College), Bradford. During this time George Boole was a frequent visitor at the Manse. Mr. Harley was devoted to him, and was captivated by his application of mathematics to logic. He became, perhaps, the most notable of Boole’s admirers and followers, and after his death in 1864 frequently lectured on “Georgo Boole and his Laws of Thought.” In 1868 he went to be the pastor of the oldest Congregational church in (Bond Street) Leicester. He was there four years, and took a very active part in the life of the town. He served on the Executive Committee of the National Education League, an office which brought him into association with the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, for whom he entertained a high regard. He was elected a member of the first Leicester School Board; he helped to establish the School of Art; was an active member of the Free Library Committee; was honorary Curator of the Museum, and President of the Literary and Philosophical Society. In the latter capacity he introduced to a Leicester audience as lecturers many of the foremost scientific men of the day, including Huxley, Tyndall and Spottiswoode. He himself lectured on “The Moon,” “ Meteoric Showers,” and many other subjects.