[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.
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. Folded twice. Addressed to ‘The Rev. J. E. Dalton’ and signed ‘W Whewell’. Begins: ‘My dear Sir / I am much honoured by the request which you have conveyed to me on the part of the Committee of the Cambridge Bible Society. I should be very sorry to refuse my help to their labours if it were likely to be of any real value: but I cannot but think that they would find it better to have some one to preside over them who has taken a greater share in their previous proceedings, and I have no doubt they will easily find such a person with greater advantage to their cause than my presiding could confer.’