references to St. Patrick will be found in all the series of Notes and Queries. His festival is the 17th March. Patterson, Robert, F.E.S., an emi- nent zoologist, was born in Belfast, 18th April 1802. He was brought up to busi- ness, and having joined his father, an ironmonger, continued closely occupied with trade up to his last illness. Early in life he turned his attention to the study of natural history, chiefly zoology and botany. His investigations were confined to the districts around Belfast, and were carried on principally during the summer months, when staying at sea- side places on the coasts of Antrim and Down. For many years he took part in dredging excursions, in the course of which he discovered several forms of marine life new to Britain, which were duly described in the transactions of the scientific societies of the time. He was one of the found- ers of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society in 1821, of which he was President for many years, and was instrumental in the erection of the museum of that society ten years later. He was a Fellow of the Eoyal Society, was a Member of the Eoyal Irish Academy, and was actively engaged in the management of several local societies and municipal insti- tutions in Belfast. In 1838 he published Letters on the Insects Mentioned in Shaks- pere; between 1846 and 1848, Zoology for Schools, and later, his First Steps to Zoology. These two latter works met a decided educational want, and being admirably suited as class-books, were adopted by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland, and by the English Board of Education. He also published sets of Zoological Diagrams. He was one of the earliest members of the British Association, and on the occasion of its visit to Belfast in 1852 filled the post of local treasurer. He died at his residence, in College-square, Belfast, 14th February 1872, aged 69. Patterson, Robert, LL.D., was born in the north of Ireland, 30th May 1743. He went to Philadelphia in 1768, and in 1774 became principal of an academy at Wilmington, Delaware. He was a brigade- major in the revolutionary war. Professor of Mathematics at the University of Penn- sylvania from 1779 to 1814, and for some time Vice-Provost. In 1805 he was ap- pointed Director of the United States Mint, and from 18 19 till his death was President of the American Philosophical Society, to whose Tramactioiu he was a frequent contributor. He was author of
the Newtonian System, published in 1808,
Treatise on A rithmetic, 1819, besides editing
various scientific works. He died at Phila-
delphia 22nd July 1824, aged 81. [His son
Eobert, a physician (born in the United
States, 1787; died in 1854), was Pro-
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Philo-
sophy in the Pennsylvania University, and
for many years Director of the United
States Mint.]
Pearce, Sir Edward Lovet, a dis-
tinguished Irish architect, was born in the
second half of the 17th century. He was
a member of Parliament, held the position
of Government Engineer and Surveyor-
General, and designed the Irish Parlia-
ment House in College-green. The works
were commenced in 1729, carried on by
him until his demise, and completed about
1 739, at a cost of about £40,000, by his
successor, Arthui' Dobbs. [For the addi-
tions to Pearce's design, see Gandon,
James.] He died at his seat at Stillorgan,
County of Dublin, 7th December 1733,
and was buried in Dounybrook church-
yard. [His brother, Lieutenant-General
Thomas Pearce, Governor of Limerick,
was buried beside him five years after-
wards.]
Perceval, Sir Philip, was born in
. His father, the friend and favourite
of Lord Burleigh, had been granted large
estates in Munster. Philip held situations of trust and emolument before he
was twenty, and received additional land
giants in Cork, Tipperary, and Wexford so that ultimately he became owner
of some 100,000 acres of the finest land
in the country. Foreseeing the outbreak
of 1641, he placed his castles in a good
state of defence. LiscarroU sustained a
siege of eleven days, against 7,000 foot,
500 horse, and artillery, and Annagh
withstood Lord Muskerry with an army
of 5,000. Both castles, however, were lost
by treacheiy. Altogether, by his devotion
to the English side, he lost in the struggle a
landed estate of £2,000 a year, offices worth
£2,000 more, and upwards of £20,000
spent in carrying on the war and re-
lieving sufferers therefrom. In 1644 he
acted as one of Charles I.'s Commissioners
to treat with the Irish Confederates. At
the conclusion of the ensuing futile nego-
tiations he joined the English Parliamen-
tary party, and was returned for the
borough of Newport, in Cornwall, through
the influence of his friend Pym. At the
termination of the truce in 1647, the army
of Munster, under the command of Lord
Inchiquin, committed to Sir Philip the
direction and management of their inter-
ests. The anxieties of office eventually
undermined his constitution. He died
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