John Elliot
MD (1747 – 22 July 1787) was a physician and scientist in eighteenth-century
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
who was the first person to conjecture that different parts of the
retina
The retina (; or retinas) is the innermost, photosensitivity, light-sensitive layer of tissue (biology), tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some Mollusca, molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focus (optics), focused two-dimensional ...
respond to particular colours of light. However, he was obsessed with Mary Boydell, niece
[The Scots Magazine 1 August 1787] of the publisher
John Boydell
John Boydell ( ; – 12 December 1804) was an English publisher noted for his reproductions of engravings. He helped alter the trade imbalance between Britain and France in engravings and initiated an English tradition in the art form. A former ...
, and in 1787 was arrested for attempting to murder her. Although acquitted of attempted murder, he starved himself to death while awaiting trial for assault in
Newgate Gaol
Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, the pris ...
.
Bibliography
*—. ''Narrative of the Life and Death of John Elliot, M.D. Containing an account of the rise progress and catastrophe of his unhappy passion for Miss Mary Boydell, a review of his writings together with an apology written by himself under the pressure of expected condemnation after his commitment for attempting to assassinate Miss Boydell.'' London, 1787.
*—.
John Elliot, M.D.. ''
The Newgate Calendar
''The Newgate Calendar'', subtitled ''The Malefactors' Bloody Register'', was a popular collection of moralising stories about sin, crime, and criminals who commit them in England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Originally a monthly bulletin of ...
'', Vol. IV, 164-168. London: Navarre Society Ltd., 1926.
*Elliot, John. ''Elements of Natural Philosophy''. London, 1792.
*Mollon, J.D.
The Origins of Modern Color Science. ''The Science of Color''. London: Elsevier Ltd, 2003. . Retrieved on 29 January 2008.
*Mollon, John.
John Elliot. ''
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...
''. Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved on 30 January 2008.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot, John
English scientists
1787 deaths
1747 births