WHEWELL

[The man who coined the term ‘scientist’: William Whewell, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.] Autograph Letter Signed to Rev. J. E. Dalton of the British and Foreign Bible Society, declining the position of chairman of the Cambridge committee.

Author: 
William Whewell (1794-1866), polymath who coined the word ‘scientist’, Master of Trinity College Cambridge and authority on the history of science [Rev. J. E. Dalton; British and Foreign Bible Society
Publication details: 
‘Trin. Lodge, [Trinity College, Cambridge] Oct 26 1849’.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, and the entry for ‘scientist’ in the OED. Whewell first used the word in 1834 in the Quarterly Review, stating that ‘some ingenious gentleman proposed that, by analogy with artist, they might form scientist, and added that there could be no scruple in making free with this termination when we have such words as sciolist, economist, and atheist’. It is probable that the ‘ingenious gentleman’ is Whewell himself. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the blank second leaf slightly damaged by removal from mount.

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