Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/288

 Hancock. The plates are remarkable alike for beauty of drawing and for delicacy of colour. The type specimens and original drawings are preserved in the Newcastle Museum. Having described many new species, Hancock in 1844 began, in conjunction with Dr. Embleton, lecturer on anatomy at the Newcastle School of Medicine, an exhaustive inquiry into the structure of ALolis, a genus of nudibranchs, with special reference to Quatrefages's theory of phlebenterism. This joint research extended to 1849, and was followed between 1850 and 1852 by a similar investigation of the genus Doris, the l sea-lemon.' Meanwhile Hancock had taken an active part in promoting polytechnic exhibitions at Newcastle in 1840 and 1848, and in founding the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club in 1846. To the 'Transactions' of this club he contributed a series of papers on the boring apparatus of sponges, mollusks, and barnacles. In 1857 he published in the 'Philosophical Transactions' one of his most valuable contributions to anatomy, 'The Organisation of Brachiopoda,' and in the following year he was awarded the royal medal of the society ; but he was too modest to become a candidate for fellowship, or even to accept the presidency of any of the local societies. In 1862 he became a fellow of the Linnean Society, and in 1868 there appeared in the journal of that society his paper 'On the Anatomy and Physiology of the Tunicata,' which was the preliminary to a proposed monograph of the British representatives of the group which he was never able to complete. In 1863, on the occasion of the meeting of the British Association, he, in conjunction with his brother John, got together a magnificent collection of scientific and artistic treasures in the Newcastle Central Exchange ; and for many years he was an active member of the Literary and Philosophical Society. Though fond of social intercourse, he allowed himself insufficient rest or exercise, and ruined his health. Unable for three years to work at his microscope, the gift of Lady Armstrong, with characteristic energy he turned his attention to the fossil fish and reptiles of the permian and carboniferous series, and produced, in conjunction with Thomas Atthey, and afterwards with Richard Howse, no less than fifteen papers upon them. Hancock died 24 Oct. 1873. He was not married.  HANCOCK, JOHN (d. 1869), sculptor, first appears as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1843, sending a statue of 'The Prodigal Son.' He exhibited 'Comus ' in 1845, and annually for about twenty years afterwards. In 1849 he sent a bas-relief of 'Christ's Entry into Jerusalem,' which obtained one of the prizes given by the Art Union, and was engraved by the anaglyptograph process as one of their prize publications for that year. In 1850 he sent a statue of 'Beatrice,' from Dante's 'Vita Nuova,' which attracted attention at the Academy and in the International Exhibition of 1851. In 1853 he sent another bas-relief of 'Christ led to Crucifixion,' which was also purchased and published by the Art Union. Hancock obtained many commissions, and executed, among other works, a bust of 'La Penserosa,' which is in the royal collection, and a statue of 'II Penseroso,' executed by order of the court of common council for the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion House. He never, however, gained the reputation of which his works at one time showed promise. He died on 17 Oct. 1869.  HANCOCK, ROBERT (1730–1817), engraver, was born in Staffordshire in 1730. He studied under Ravenet, and was at first engaged as an engraver at the Battersea. Enamel Works under Alderman Jansen. A watch-back of this enamel with a garden tea-party scene printed in transfer by him is reproduced in Jewitt's ' Ceramic Art,' p. 137, fig. 518. In 1756 or 1757 he became draughtsman and engraver to the Worcester Porcelain Works, and engraved numerous plates for the transfer-printed china for which those works at that time began to be celebrated. He was one of the proprietors of the works from 3 March 1772 till 31 Oct. 1774, when he sold his share, a sixth of the concern, for 900l., in consequence of disputes with the other partners. He retained, however, till January 1804 his property in a house built by Holdship on the works, which he had purchased from the mortgagees in 1769. Hancock on the transfer-printed Worcester porcelain uses the signature (R. Hancock (or 'Hancock') fecit.' The signature 'R. H.' in monogram, accompanied by an anchor, which occurs on ware of this class, has also been supposed to be Hancock's (''Cat. of Pottery, Mus. Practical Geology'', 3rd ed. pp. 219-20 ;, Ceramic Art, p. 137); but according to Chaffers (Marks and Monograms, 1886, pp. 711, 722 ; cp. and, Manual of 