John Clerk of Eldin

‘John Clerk of Eldin, the author of the work on naval

tactics, died in May, 1812. An interesting and delightful

old man; full of the peculiarities that distinguished the

whole family — talent, caprice, obstinacy, worth, kindness,

and oddity. His claim to the merit of having first sug-

gested the idea of breaking the enemy's line in naval war,

is now disputed on grounds which are at least plausible

and formidable. It is possible that the same thought may

have occurred to different men at the same time; and my

conviction of the honesty of Clerk is so complete, that I

am certain he would have disdained to claim a discovery

which he had not made. That conception however forms

just a small part of his scientific merit; for though it

the matter with which his name happens to be chiefly con-

nected in public talk, he was looked up to with defer-

ence by all the philosophers of his day, who were in

the habit of constantly receiving hints and views from

him, which they deemed of great value. He was a

striking looking old gentleman with his grizzly hair, vig-

orous features, and Scotch speech. It would be difficult

to say whether jokes or disputation pleased him most. I

know no better account of the progress of a father and a

son than what I once heard him give of himself and of

his son John, in nearly these very words — "I remember

the time when people, seeing John limping on the street,

need to ask, what lame lad that was? and the answer

would be, that's the son of Clerk of Eldin. But now,

when I myself am passing, I hear them saying what,

auld gray-headed man is that? And the answer is, that's

the father of John Clerk." He was much prouder of the

last mark than of the first. ‘

The description of John Clerk of Eldin above was written by Henry Cockburn, and is found in his “Memorials of his Time”.  John Clerk was the brother of Walter Scott’s friend Will Clerk.  Today marks the 200^th anniversary of John Clerk of Eldin’s death; May 10, 1812.