Anderson left all his apparatus, library, &c., for the foundation of an educational institution in Glasgow, which bears his name. Funds were raised by subscription; Thomas Garnett was appointed professor of natural philosophy under the trust 21 Sept. 1796; and on 21 June 1797 the institution was incorporated. Dr. Garnett was succeeded in 1800 by Dr. Birkbeck, who gave free lectures to 500 operative mechanics; and the institution has since been extended.
[Glasgow Mechanics' Magazine, ii. 412–4, iii. pp. v–ix and p. 215; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
ANDERSON, JOHN (fl. 1799), wood engraver, was born in Scotland, and was well educated. He was a pupil of Thomas Bewick. He cut (after drawings by J. Samuel) the blocks which illustrate ‘Grove Hill,’ a poem, very sumptuously issued by T. Bensley in 1799. This book, for the beauty of its cuts and the care with which they are printed, will bear comparison with Somervile's ‘Chase.’ The best work of Bewick is technically hardly better than that which Anderson shows in ‘Shakespeare's Walk’ in the book in question. His treatment of foliage is sometimes such as to remind one strongly of the cuts in Bloomfield's ‘Farmer's Boy,’ which the first edition of 1800 describes as ‘with ornaments engraved by Anderson.’ These cuts have been long erroneously ascribed to Bewick. Anderson also engraved illustrations to an edition of Junius. Redgrave says he formed ‘a style of his own and showed much ability, but did not long follow his profession. He went abroad on some speculation, and was lost sight of. He died early in the century.’ Historians of the wood-engraver's art should give to the author of such work as has been described a more important place than he has yet obtained.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Painters.]
ANDERSON, JOHN, M.D. (d. 1804), practised as a physician at Kingston, in Surrey, and subsequently, for several years before his death, was physician to, and a director of, the General Sea-bathing Infirmary at Margate, where he died in June 1804 at an advanced age. He wrote for his doctor's degree, which he took at Edinburgh, a dissertation ‘De Scorbuto,’ published in 1772. He was also author of ‘Medical Remarks on Natural Spontaneous and Artificial Evacuations,’ London, 1788; and of ‘A Practical Essay on the good and bad Effects of Sea-water and Sea-bathing.’ He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
[Gent. Mag. lxxiv. 978; Anderson's works mentioned above.]
ANDERSON, JOHN (fl. 1816), founder of Fermoy, born in very humble circumstances, was son of David Anderson, of Portland, N.B. Having scraped together a few pounds by some petty dealings, he removed to Glasgow, and by a venture in herrings acquired 500l. In 1780 he established himself at Cork, where he became an export merchant and trafficked in provisions, the staple trade of the place. In a few years he realised 25,000l., and laid it out in the purchase of four-sixths of the Fermoy estate, which is picturesquely situated on the river Blackwater, nearly in the centre of Munster. He resolved to make a town of Fermoy, and succeeded in constructing the handsomest country town in Ireland. Mr. D. Owen Madden, writing in 1848, says: ‘The streets are spacious, and the town is tastefully designed. There is a neat square; there are fine churches for religious worship, and several private residences of respectability in the neighbourhood. The place looks bright and happy—not like the other dreary and dilapidated country towns in Ireland. Two large barracks, built in squares on the northern side of the town, contribute to the imposing appearance of the place. Fermoy has now 7,000 inhabitants. Sixty years ago the place was a dirty hamlet, consisting of hovels, and a carmen's public-house at the end of the narrow old bridge; now there is a cheerful and agreeable town, pleasant society, a good deal of trade, and more prosperity than might be expected.’ With reference to the barracks it should be stated that when the French came into Bantry Bay the government was unable to procure land, except on the most extravagant terms, for encamping the troops in the south of Ireland. Lord Carhampton, commander of the forces, explained the difficulties to Anderson, who at once removed them by giving land on his Fermoy estate without any charge for the required encampment; and he afterwards gave forty acres, rent free, on which the barracks of Fermoy and Buttevant are built.
Anderson erected for himself a handsome residence at Fermoy, and placed himself at the head of the community which rapidly began to grow around him. Meantime he had not given up his business, and he discounted to a considerable extent. On the proposed establishment in Ireland of the mail-coach system, Anderson, at a moment when no other man of capital and position would venture on so hazardous an undertaking, offered to embark on the enterprise. His proposal was readily accepted, the government stipulating that he was to provide the whole of the necessary means.
