James Bryce

James Bryce LLD FRSE FGS (22 October 1806, in Killaig, near Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ulster – 11 July 1877, in Inverfarigaig, Inverness-shire, Scotland) was an Irish mathematician, naturalist and geologist.

Early life He was the third son of the Reverend James Bryce (b. 1767, Airdrie in Lanarkshire, Scotland – d. 1857 at the age of ninety; son of John Bryce, a Scottish tradesman who descended from small landowners settled at Dechmont in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, and wife Robina née Allen, whose family possessed considerable property near Airdrie, until ostracized and impoverished by adherence to covenanting principles) and his wife Catherine née Annan, of Auchtermuchty in Fife, Scotland. He was born at Killaig, near Coleraine, Ireland, and his parents were members of the Anti-Burgher faction of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and assimilated into the Ulster Scots people. He was educated first by his father and eldest brother, Rev. Dr. Reuben John Bryce (1797–1888), and afterwards at the University of Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. in 1828, having distinguished himself in classical studies.

Professional life In 1826, Bryce was appointed Master of the Mathematical and Commercial Department of Belfast Academical Institution. He was Secretary of the Belfast Natural History Society from its foundation. He also wrote 'A Treatise on Algebra,' which went through several editions, an introduction to 'Mathematical Astronomy and Geography', 'A Cyclopœdia of Geography' and a book on 'Arran and the other Clyde islands,' with special reference to their geology and antiquities. He also made an important contribution on the Jurassic rocks of Skye and Raasay which he studied between 1869-1872, with Ralph Tate joining him in the field in 1872.

He was a warm advocate of the more general introduction into schools of the teaching of natural history as well as natural science, and set the example of giving teaching voluntarily in these subjects, for which there was in his day no regular provision in the high schools of Scotland.

Personal life Bryce married Margaret (1813–1903), daughter of James Young, of Abbeyville, County Antrim, Ulster, in 1836. Their eldest son was James Bryce, later 1st Viscount Bryce (1838–1922), historian, lawyer, politician and diplomat; a younger son, (John) Annan Bryce (1843–1923), became an East India merchant and served as MP to Inverness. He was the uncle of Thomas Hastie Bryce (who also wrote on Arran).

Bryce is buried in the south-west section of the Grange Cemetery in Edinburgh. The grave is at the west end of a central east–west avenue in that section. His wife Margaret lies with him as does his son, John Annan Bryce.

Works 1831 Tables of simple minerals, rocks, and shells : with local catalogues of species : for the use of the students of natural history in the Belfast Academy. Belfast, Simms and M'Intyre 1834 An account of the celebrated Portrush rock. Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin 2: 166–174 1837 A treatise on the elements of algebra Edinburgh, Adam and Charles Black 1837 On the geological structure of the north-eastern part of the county of Antrim. Transactions of the Geological Society of London 5: 69–81 1848 First principles of geography and astronomy : with the use of globes, Griffin 1852 Geological notices of the environs of Belfast, the east coast of Antrim, and the Giant's Causeway Dublin, James McGlashan 1870?

1873