Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nesbit, John Collis
NESBIT, JOHN COLLIS (1818–1862), agricultural chemist, son of Anthony Nesbit [q. v.], was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, 12 July 1818. He was educated at home, and assisted his father in his school. At an early age he turned his attention to chemistry and physical science, and when only fifteen he constructed a galvanic battery which was purchased by the Manchester Mechanics' Institute for thirty guineas. He studied chemistry under Dalton, and also attended Sturgeon's lectures on electricity and galvanism. He commenced lecturing at an early age, and he acquired great facility as a speaker upon scientific subjects. He took a leading part in the management of his father's school upon its removal to London, and he was one of the first to introduce the teaching of natural science into an ordinary school course, the instruction being given partly by himself, and partly by Charles Johnson (1791–1880) [q. v.], John Morris (1810–1886) [q. v.], and George Fleming Richardson. Particular attention was paid to chemistry, especially as applied to agriculture, and each pupil received practical instruction in the laboratory. Eventually the school was converted into a chemical and agricultural college under his sole direction, and as the use of superphosphates and other artificial manures became general, Nesbit began to undertake commercial analyses for farmers and manufacturers. New laboratories were built, and he obtained a large practice as a consulting and analytical chemist. He was elected a fellow of the Geological Society and of the Chemical Society in 1845. Reasoning from certain geological indications, he was led to suspect the existence of phosphatic deposits in the Ardennes, and in the summer of 1855 he discovered several important beds of coprolites in that region. For many years he was a prominent member of the Central Farmers' Club, which in 1857 presented him with a microscope and a service of plate in recognition of his services to agricultural chemistry (Farmers' Magazine, May 1856, p. 415; January 1858, p. 6).
Nesbit wrote: 1. ‘Lecture on Agricultural Chemistry at Saxmundham,’ 1849. 2. ‘Peruvian Guano: its history, composition, and fertilising qualities,’ 1852. This was translated into German, with additions, in 1853 by C. H. Schmidt. 3. ‘Agricultural Chemistry and the Nature and Properties of Peruvian Guano,’ 1856. This consisted mainly of lectures delivered at various times. 4. ‘History and Properties of Natural Guanos,’ new edit. 1860.
His contributions to periodical literature include: 1. ‘On an Electro-Magnetic Coil Machine,’ in Sturgeon's ‘Annals of Electricity,’ 1838, ii. 203. 2. ‘Analysis of the Mineral Constituents of the Hop,’ in ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,’ 1846, vii. 210. 3. ‘On the Presence of Phosphoric Acid in the Subordinate Members of the Chalk Formation,’ in ‘Journal of the Geological Society,’ 1848, iv. 262. 4. ‘On the Quantitative Estimation of Phosphoric Acid, and on its Presence in some of the Marls of the Upper Greensand Formation,’ in ‘Journal of the Chemical Society,’ 1848, i. 44. 5. ‘On the Phosphoric Acid and Fluorine contained in different Geological Strata,’ ib. p. 233. 6. ‘On a New Method for the Quantitative Determination of Nitric Acid and other Compounds of Nitrogen,’ ib. p. 281. 7. ‘On the Formation of Nitrates and Nitre Beds,’ in ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,’ xiv. 391. 8. ‘On the Relative Value of Artificial Manures and their Adaptation to Different Crops,’ in ‘Farmer's Magazine,’ May 1856, p. 416. 9. ‘The Mechanical and Chemical Principles applicable to Drainage,’ ib. January 1858, p. 7.
Nesbit died at the house of a friend at Barnes on 30 March 1862. He married, 22 Dec. 1850, Sarah, daughter of H. Alderton of Hastings, who survived him. His daughter Edith, now Mrs. Hubert Bland, is known as an authoress, under the name of E. Nesbit.
A son, Alfred Anthony Nesbit (1854–1894), also an analytical chemist, for some years had a laboratory at 38 Gracechurch Street, London. In 1881 he called attention to the facility with which the obliteration could be removed from postage stamps, and in 1883 he patented an improved ink for obliterating postage stamps (No. 949). His patent for preventing the fraudulent alteration of cheques (No. 2184 of 1880) was well received, but was never practically applied (cf. Morning Post, 17 Feb. 1881; Standard, 5 Feb. 1881). He made experiments on the action of coloured light on carp (cf. Journal of Science, June 1882, p. 351), and he was very successful in colouring white flowers by causing them to absorb aniline dyes of various shades (cf. ib. July 1882, p. 431; Globe, 5 July 1882).
[Mark Lane Express, 31 March 1862, p. 458; Illustrated London News (portrait), 19 April 1862, p. 394; Quart. Journal Geol. Soc. 1863, p. xix; and personal knowledge.]