Nichol, John Pringle

Nichol, John Pringle a British astronomer and philosopher, eminent for his services to the Church by seeking to harmonize science and revelation, was born at Brechin, Scotland, in 1804. He was originally educated for the ministry, but turned aside to the study of the natural sciences, especially astronomy, and gained distinction as a lecturer and writer on science. About 1836 he was appointed professor of astronomy in the University of Glasgow. He died in 1859. He published popular works, entitled The Architecture of the Heavens (1836); The Stellar Heavens; The Solar Systenm; and a Dictionary of the Physical Sciences. He wrote also numerous articles for the Imperial Dictionary of Biography. His style is vigorous and attractive. "In the combined character of lecturer and popular writer," says a writer in Tait's Magazine (1848), "Dr. Nichol has done more than any modern scientist to uncase science from its mummy confinements, and to make it walk abroad as a free and living thing. . . Nichol is the prose laureate of the stars. From his writings ascends hitherto the richest tribute of mingled intelligence of their laws — love for their beauty — admiration for their still, strong order — hope in the prospects of mankind, as reflected in their mirror — and sense, ever profound and near, of that unseen Power who counts their numbers, sustains their motions, and makes their thousand eyes the organs and the symbols of his omniscience." Professor Nichol's spirit of reverence is in all his writings, and has made him famous throughout Britain. In this country his writings have not circulated as largely as they deserve. See Littells Living Age, May 6, 1848, art. i; and the references in Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Auth. s.v. (J. H.W.)