Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Millington, John
MILLINGTON, JOHN (1779–1868), engineer, scientific writer, and lecturer, was born in London on 11 May 1779, and is said to have studied medicine and to have gained the degree of M.D. He commenced lecturing at the Royal Institution, London, in 1815, and was appointed professor of mechanics there 7 July 1817. He gave annual courses of lectures on natural philosophy, mechanics, and astronomy until 1829. He was one of the original fellows of the Astronomical Society of London, and he held the office of secretary from 14 Feb. 1823 to 10 Feb. 1826. He was also on the teaching staff of Guy's Hospital, and vice-president of Dr. Birkbeck's London Mechanics' Institution. He appears to have left this country for America about 1829 or 1830, to become chief engineer of silver mines and chief superintendent of a mint in Mexico. The preface to the revised edition of his ‘Elementary Principles of Natural Philosophy’ was dated ‘Guanaxuato, August 1830.’ The book was affectionately dedicated to Dr. Birkbeck and the officers and members of the London Mechanics' Institution. In 1834–5 Millington was residing at Philadelphia, and a paper of his ‘On the Rappahannock Gold Mines in Virginia’ appears in the ‘Transactions of the Pennsylvania Geological Society,’ 1835, i. 147. Two years later he became professor of chemistry and natural philosophy at the William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia, and was subsequently state geologist of Mississippi. He died 10 July 1868, and was buried in Bruton parish churchyard, Williamsburg, where there is a monument with a long inscription to his memory.
Millington's published works are: ‘Epitome of the Elementary Principles of Natural and Experimental Philosophy,’ London, 1823; 2nd edit. 1830. ‘Elements of Civil Engineering,’ Philadelphia, 1839. He also contributed a paper on the hydraulic ram to the ‘Quarterly Journal of Science,’ 1816, i. 211, and one on street illumination to the same periodical, 1818, v. 177. In 1816 he obtained a patent (No. 3977) for a ship's propeller, and he gave evidence in 1817 before a select committee of the House of Commons on Hill and Bundy's patent. He was also examined in May 1829 before the select committee on the patent laws. It appears from his evidence that he had for many years carried on a considerable practice as a patent agent.
[Millington's Works; information kindly supplied by Mr. C. W. Coleman, librarian to the William and Mary College, Virginia.]