William Archibald Cadell facts for kids
William Archibald Cadell (1775–1855) was a Scottish expert in business, math, and writing about his travels. He was a member of important groups like the Royal Society (FRS) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
Contents
William Cadell's Life Story
William Archibald Cadell was born on June 27, 1775. His family lived at Carron Park, near Falkirk, Scotland. His father, William Cadell the younger, was the son of William Cadell. The older William Cadell helped start the famous Carron Iron Works.
Early Life and Education
From a young age, William Archibald Cadell was connected to the iron business. In 1787, he received shares in an iron company. These shares came from his uncle, Thomas Edington.
He studied at Edinburgh University. Around 1798, he became a lawyer, but he never actually worked as one. He had enough money from his family and owned land in Stirlingshire.
Business and Travel Adventures
Cadell was involved in different businesses. He invested in coal, paper, and iron companies. However, he mostly acted as a financier, meaning he provided money for these businesses.
Instead of practicing law, he spent his time on science and history. He traveled a lot in Europe. During the Napoleonic Wars, he was captured in 1802. He was held prisoner for several years.
He managed to escape by pretending to be French. He spoke French well, which helped him. By 1809, he was back home in Scotland.
Important Memberships
William Cadell was a good friend of Sir Joseph Banks. Banks was a famous scientist. Because of this friendship, Cadell became a member of the Royal Society on June 28, 1810.
He was also a member of other important groups. These included the Geological Society. He was also part of the Wernerian Natural History Society. And, as mentioned, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Later Years and Burial
William Archibald Cadell never got married. He passed away in Edinburgh on February 19, 1855.
He is buried in Warriston Cemetery. His grave is located against the southern wall of the main cemetery. It is near the Water of Leith Walkway.
William Cadell's Published Works
Cadell wrote several interesting papers and books. He shared his ideas and discoveries with others.
Mathematical and Scientific Papers
One of his papers was about math. It was called "On the Lines that divide each Semidiurnal Arc into Six Equal Parts." This paper was published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
He also wrote about a cool invention. In the Annals of Philosophy, he described "An Account of an Arithmetical Machine." This machine was found in the College Library of Edinburgh.
Travel Writing
Cadell also wrote about his journeys. He published a two-volume book called A Journey in Carniola, Italy, and France. This book covered his travels in the years 1817 and 1818. It was published in Edinburgh in 1820.
Family Connections
William Archibald Cadell did not have any children of his own. He was the great-uncle of a well-known geologist named Henry Cadell.
