Newsletter - Issue 16

A BRILLIANT BOY PASSES THROUGH SALTASH

Born in 1819, John Couch Adams was the oldest child of Thomas and his wife Tabitha Knill Adams (nee Grylls). They farmed at Lidcott in Laneast parish, where all seven children were born.

John's first schooling was in Laneast village at a small school in a farmhouse kept by Anne Dawe, a mile and a half away across Laneast Down "Father took John on his pony a considerable part of the way" : an extract from younger brother George's account. Later George and Thomas joined John at Mr. Sleep's school "of greater pretension" at Laneast.

When he was nearly twelve, John was taken to see a cousin in Launceston named Pearse. John showed his algebraic powers and his father was advised to send him to college.

In 1831, aged twelve, he was sent to a Devonport school kept by a cousin of Tabitha's : the Reverend John Couch Grylls.

When cholera broke out in Devonport, John was sent home, returning to school when the infection abated. In 1834, Mr. Grylls moved his school to Church House, Saltash in the present Alexandra Square. In 1835 the school moved to Landulph and later returned to Devonport.

John remained at the school until 1838, helping with teaching as well as studying. Throughout, he had been a boarder, making the journey each term from Lidcott, with his brother, by pony through Callington and St. Mellion, whence George would return home with the ponies. John then walked to Saltash and on by river to Devonport. His luggage was sent by Mr. Ham of Tregeare who also took farm produce and letters to the school.

John studied the classics with Mr. Grylls but learned his mathematics from books. The Mechanics's Institute in Devonport had a library where John could borrow mathematical books.

After leaving school, John was, for a while, tutor in land surveying to the sons of a Mr. Foot in Pillaton, who later emigrated to Australia. John was almost persuaded to go with them, as schoolmaster Grylls did in 1840.

But soon the Adams family had raised enough money for John to apply for entrance to Cambridge University, coached by Mr. Martin the curate at Lamerton, who had lately graduated from Cambridge.

John subsequently won a scholarship and entered St. John's College in October 1839, becoming Senior Wrangler in 1843 and First Smith's prizeman. During his vacations he worked on the calculations which led to his discovery of the planet Neptune. These papers were delivered to Dr. Airy, the Astronomer Royal at Greenwich Observatory in September 1845 many months before the French astronomer Le Verrier's calculations were published or even finished! Dr. Airy had failed to examine John's calculations carefully and did not use the telescope at Greenwich to search for the planet on the date given.

As is well known now, both Adams and Le Verrier were credited with the discovery of the planet Neptune, with John Couch Adams as first. His modesty and good nature precluded unhappy recriminations.

John was involved in the work of the Washington Conference of 1884 when the Greenwich Meridian was fixed and later when the International Dateline for Navigation was agreed in 1888.

John's brother George retired to Saltash, living at "Home Park" in Old Ferry Road and later in "Tamar Bank" on the opposite side of the road. He was thrice Mayor of Saltash in 1886 and 1887 and again in 1893 as Alderman of the Borough.

The youngest brother William became Professor of Applied Mathematics at Kings College, London.

Mary, the youngest sister, married Henry Roseveare who farmed at Wearde and Wivelscombe; she is buried at St. Stephens by Saltash. John and his wife, Elizabeth, visited Saltash and kept in touch with nieces and nephews some of whom were also able scholars.

John died in 1892; his official biography was never written, owing to the illness of the professor to whom the papers were sent.

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In 1994, his great-great niece Hilda Harrison published an entertaining biography "Voyager in Time and Space"; local names run through this excellent story of a brilliant scholar.

Miss Ethel Roseveare of "Woodstock" has provided the information here presented about her distinguished great-uncle and his connection with Saltash.

Saltash Heritage, 17 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6JQ --- Tel: 01752 848466 --- Email: info@saltash-heritage.org.uk --- Registered Charity No. 297525