Transcript

of

E.J. Gilman [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1877, Vol IX, p. 60-61.

by

Rev. W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

Torquay's economy, like Brixham's, was initially based upon fishing and agriculture, but in the early 19th century it began to develop into a fashionable seaside resort, initially frequented by members of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars while the Royal Navy anchored in the bay. Later, as the town's fame spread, it was popular with Victorian society. Renowned for its mild climate, the town earned the nickname the English Riviera. 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.

Humphrey Blackmore was a native of Salisbury, but he resided many years at Torquay, where he devoted much time to microscopy and numismatics. He had made a very valuable collection of coins and china. He became a member of the Torquay Natural History Society in 1863, and for some years took an active part in its management, filling the office of vice-president in 1866-7. Though the state of his health for a few years had been by no means robust, he continued to the last to take an active interest in various institutions for the benefit of the poor.

E. J. GILMAN, who was long resident at 14, The Boltons, London, became a member of the Association in 1874 and although he never attended any of its meetings, yet, to use his own words, he always awaited in eager expectation the publication of the annual volume of Transactions, and read it with much interest when it came to hand. In the autumn of last year he came to reside at Torquay. On the 8th of November he was elected a member of the Torquay Natural History Society, and was, so far as his health permitted, a regular attendant of the Society's weekly lectures. He died at his residence, The Boltons, Torquay, on the 13th April, 1877, aged 67 years.