Transcript

of

Rev Robert Cooper Douglas, M.A.  [Obituary]

Rev. W. Harpley

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1887, Vol XIX, pp.41-42

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Rev Douglas is listed as author of a journal article in The Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturalists. His obituary was read at the Association’s July 1887, Plympton meeting.  The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Rev. Robert Cooper Douglas, M.A., was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1846. He was ordained deacon in 1847, and received full orders in 1848. In 1869 he was appointed to the living of Manaton, near Moretonhampstead, which he held until his decease. His life at Manaton was one of quiet and unobtrusive well-doing; his heart and home were always open to everyone, and his assistance was never sought in vain by the perplexed and distressed. Mr. Douglas was elected a member of the Association in 1869, and the following year he became a life member. He was also a member of the Teign Naturalists' Field Club, which, he joined in 1870; he was a Vice-President in 1886, and was elected President on the 19th April, 1887, but little more than a month before his death. He read the following papers to the Club: "The Progress of the Microscope since the introduction of achromatic object-glasses" (1877); “On the Socket of an Old Cross." (1885.)

On the morning of Saturday, 21st May, 1887, he was found dead in his bedroom. He had been unwell for some time, but nothing serious was apprehended, and he retired to his room at his accustomed time on Friday night. No more was seen or heard of him by the servants until next morning, when, finding he did not come down at the usual time, they at last went to his room, and found him there dressed as when he retired. The bed had not been slept in. Apoplexy is believed to have been the cause of death.