Herbert Tomlinson, E.R.S., was born at York, in November, 1845. He was educated at St. Peter’s School, York, where his father, William Tomlinson, was Mathematical Master and for many years Headmaster. From school Herbert Tomlinson obtained an open scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford. He matriculated in the Michaelmas term, 1865, and took his B.A. degree with honours in mathematics and natural science in 1868. He was elected Student of Christ Church, Oxford, and kept his name on the books of Christ Church until 1911. After leaving Oxford he became Science and Mathematical Master at Bedford College which post he held until 1870, when he was appointed Demonstrator and Lecturer in the Department of Natural Philosophy, King’s College, under Professor W. Grylls Adams, F.R.S. In the same year he was elected a Whitworth Exhibitioner.