Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 01.djvu/396

 Hebrides,’ &c., 1785; ‘Observations on Slavery,’ 1789; ‘A General View of the Agriculture and Rural Economy of the County of Aberdeen,’ 1794; ‘On an Universal Character,’ 1795. A full list of his works is given in Anderson's ‘Scottish Nation.’



ANDERSON, JAMES, M.D. (d. 1809), botanist, was physician-general of the East India Company at Madras. It appears from Dodwell and Milne's list of medical officers in India that James Anderson was assistant-surgeon in 1765, surgeon in 1786, member of the medical board in 1800, and died 5 Aug. 1809. Anderson gave an account in a series of letters to Sir Joseph Banks (published at Madras 1781) of an insect resembling the cochineal, which he had discovered in Madras. Gardens, superintended by Anderson, were cultivated for these insects, and when the die obtained from them did not answer, other insects were introduced from Brazil. Anderson afterwards attempted to introduce the cultivation of silk into Madras, and paid attention to other plants of commercial value, such as the sugar-cane, coffee plant, American cotton, and European apple. He published several series of letters upon these topics at Madras in 1789–96. He also published a paper on the minerals of Coromandel in the ‘Phœnix,’ 1797; and ‘A Journal of the Establishment of Napal and Tuna for the Prevention or Cure of Scurvy,’ &c., Madras, 1808.



ANDERSON, JAMES (1760–1835), captain in the navy, having served through the war of American independence as a midshipman, and through the first French revolutionary war as a lieutenant, was, in 1806, made a commander, and employed for several years in command of the Rinaldo brig against the enemy's privateers in the Channel. He was advanced to the rank of post-captain in 1812, and in August 1814 was appointed to the Zealous, of 74 guns, and sent out with stores to Quebec, where he was ordered to winter. The ship was old and rotten, very badly manned, and inadequately equipped; and Captain Anderson, judging that it was impossible to stay at Quebec without sacrificing the ship, returned to England; on the charge of this action being contrary to his orders, he was tried by court martial, and acquitted of all blame. Lord Melville, then first lord of the admiralty, was extremely dissatisfied at this decision, and said to Anderson: ‘If Canada fall, it will be entirely owing to your not wintering the Zealous at Quebec;’ to which Anderson replied: ‘I rather think it will be in consequence of proper supplies, in proper ships, not having been sent out there at a proper season of the year.’ The fact seems to be that Lord Melville had meant to sacrifice the Zealous, in order to have a ready excuse for any disaster that might happen in Canada, and was annoyed that his subterfuge had been destroyed by her captain's promptitude and resolution. The difference of opinion with the first lord of the admiralty, combined with the reduction of the navy at the peace, deprived Anderson of any further service. He employed his leisure in scientific and literary pursuits, and is said to have contributed several articles to different magazines. The only one which bears his name is ‘Some Observations on the Peculiarity of the Tides between Fairleigh and Dungeness,’ in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ for 1819, p. 217. He died 30 Dec. 1835.



ANDERSON, JAMES CALEB (1792–1861), inventor, was the eldest son of, the founder of Fermoy [q. v.], by his second wife, Elizabeth, only daughter of Mr. James Semple, of Waterford. He was born 21 July 1792, and was created a baronet 22 March 1813, as a mark of approbation, on the part of the government, of the great public services rendered to Ireland by his father. Sir James was a celebrated experimentalist in steam-coaching, and took out various patents for his inventions. He lodged specifications in 1831 for ‘improvements in machinery for propelling vessels on water,’ in 1837 for ‘improvements in locomotive engines,’ and in 1846 for ‘certain improvements in obtaining motive power, and in applying it to propel carriages and vessels, and to the driving of machinery.’ He died in London 4 April 1861. By his marriage, in 1815, with Caroline, fourth daughter of Mr. Robert Shaw, of Dublin, he had two sons (both of whom died unmarried) and six daughters. As he left no male issue, the baronetcy became extinct.



ANDERSON, JOHN (1668?–1721), theologian and controversialist, was tutor to the celebrated John, duke of Argyll