His father was a narrow-minded English Puritan, but respectable and conscientious,a tallow-chandler by trade; and his ancestors for several generations had been blacksmiths in the little village of Ecton in Northamptonshire, England.

Then to the Ecton mine (of which we saw but little) through Dovedale to Ashbourn, and by coach to Derby.

My first notion was simply to try the rate of a clock, and the Ecton mine was first thought of.

I made enquiries about the Ecton mine through Mr Smith (of Edensor), and visited the mine, but in the meantime Whewell had made enquiries in London and found (principally from Dr Paris) that the mine of Dolcoath near Camborne in Cornwall would be a better place for the experiment.

I.Early Education Our family had lived in the village of Ecton, Northamptonshire, for 300 years, the eldest son being always bred to the smith's business.