John Thomas Redmayne, 1846-1880

by Brian Stevenson
last updated November, 2017

J.T. Redmayne was a surgeon and physician, and an amateur naturalist specializing in diatoms. His microscope slides of diatoms were very well regarded in his time, notably for their relative purity of species (Figure 1 and 2). He also mounted histological preparations, a logical extension of his occupation, although such slides are rarely encountered today.

Figure 1. Examples of selected diatom slides by J. Redmayne. They contain from four to a few dozen selected frustules, loosely arrayed in the center of the slide. Although the diatoms were not artistically arranged like those of contemporaries such as Laurence Hardman, Redmayne’s mounts give views of the diatoms from multiple angles, highly desirable for biologists interested in diatom structure. At the right, top to bottom, are darkfield images of Redmayne’s Campylodiscus cestatus, Cymbella sp., and Cymatopleura elliptica. Photographed with colored filters. Note that Redmayne used a variety of handwriting styles on his labels.

Figure 2. Strewn diatom slides by John Redmayne, each of which contains hundreds of diatoms spread evenly under the coverslip. Shown below the slides are, left to right, a gathering of Pleurosigma angulatum mixed with small numbers of other species, and a pure gathering of Isthmia enervis.

John Thomas Redmayne was born during the first quarter of 1846 near Horton, Yorkshire. He was the first child of William and Isabella Redmayne. William operated a 120 acre farm named “Gallabar”. There is some confusion among genealogies posted on the internet, with some family trees suggesting that our J.T. Redmayne’s parents were another farming couple named John and Margaret. However, the 1878 marriage record of the John Thomas Redmayne born to John and Margaret indicates that he was not our microscopist. Such confusions are common in genealogical research, as families tended to recycle a very few ancestral names.

By 1861, the Redmaynes had moved to Clitheroe, Lancashire, where William operated a wine shop. Such businesses were usually profitable, and probably helped finance John’s medical education.

In September, 1864, John Redmayne passed his preliminary examinations at the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow. He continued his studies at Guy’s Hospital, London, receiving his diploma and admittance to the Royal College of Surgeons in January, 1869.

John married Sarah Fielden Hyatt during the summer of 1870. They set up house in Bolton, Lancashire shortly thereafter. Apparently, Redmayne took additional classes in Edinburgh around that time, as he reported having received a License in 1873 from the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.

Redmayne evidently developed an interest in diatoms and making slides prior to 1874. In August of that year, he advertised in the popular magazine Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip to exchange “good slides” of diatoms with other microscopists (Figure 3). The following year he offered to exchange “pure gatherings prepared” of diatoms.

Figure 3. Exchange offers advertised by John Redmayne in ‘Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip’.

George E. Davis, in his 1889 Practical Microscopy, gave high ratings to Redmayne’s diatom slides, “Cleaning the Specimens - This is a section upon which a moderate-sized volume may be written, as it applies to all objects whether mounted dry, in gum resins, or in aqueous media, and may simply be described as an operation for eliminating matter in the wrong place - dirt. Foreign matters should be eliminated as much as possible, and really, when set about in the right way, it is not very difficult. When we come to compare the slides of diatoms put up by Cole, Redfern, or Redmayne, with many home-mounted slides it may be readily seen what is the effect of a little care on the part of the preparer. Cole's exceedingly clean gatherings, his hand-picked slides, Redfern's single diatom, mounted on a 1/4-inch cover in the centre of a red circle 1/16 of an inch in diameter, and Redmayne's diatom slides all deserve imitation.”

Redmayne described a device he invented for the collection of diatoms, in the July, 1875 issue of Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip. This invention was widely reprinted throughout the world.

“As the beauty of mounted diatoms depends in a great measure on the cleanliness of the original gathering, sand and other impurities being difficult to get rid of in after-manipulation, I have found the following addition to the ordinary collecting apparatus, of very great assistance. It has the advantage of being easily made, and with its aid much better results can be obtained than by any other means.

It is especially useful in collecting the very thin films of diatoms from the surfaces of mud and sand, so difficult to raise to the surface of the water in the ordinary way with the spoon or bottle.

To use the apparatus, the thumb of the right hand must press the tube firmly against the stick at c, and the bottle lowered until the mouth of the tube (a) is within a quarter of an inch from the surface of the diatoms; the thumb is then to be raised, and if the water is deep, the bottle will fill by atmospheric pressure, carrying the diatoms in at the same time. In shallow water suction will be necessary to exhaust the air in the bottle: in that case a ball pipette (fig. B) will be useful as a mouthpiece.

Figure 4. Redmayne’s diatom collecting device. From ‘Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip’, 1876.

During 1877, Redmayne self-published a book of photomicrographs of diatoms. The subjects were mostly from a J.D. Möller Typen Platte. In all, there were 65 photographs. In 1878, he offered copies of his book in exchange for a good microscope objective lens or slides (Figure 3). George Davis wrote in 1881 that, “the most successful photographers of microscopic objects have been Col. Woodward, Dr. Maddox, Mr. Wenham, Drs. Abercrombie and Wilson, Mr. Shadbolt, and the late Dr. Redmayne, of Bolton”. Davis also remarked that copies of Redmayne’s photographs could be obtained from Edward Ward’s shop in Manchester. G.J. Johnson wrote in 1883, after describing the photomicrographs of Fritsch and Müller, that “these examples of the German photographers, however, do not in any way exceed in beauty the work privately published by my late lamented friend, Dr. Redmayne, of Bolton.”

Figure 5. Front page, table of contents, and technical details from Redmayne’s 1877 book of diatom photomicrographs. Adapted with permission from http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Figure 6. Plate 50, Pleurosigma angulatum, magnified 750x, by John Redmayne. Additional photographs from his 1877 book are reproduced in Figures 8-11, at the end of this essay, and at http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html. Image adapted with permission of Robert Berdan.

Redmayne donated copies of his book to the Quekett Microscopical Club (which he joined in 1876) and the Royal Microscopical Society (which he joined in 1877). Redmayne also helped found the Bolton Microscopical Society, in 1877.

John Thomas Redmayne died after a long illness on September 10, 1880, at the age of only 34. One of the executors of his estate, John Francis Walkingame Tatham, was later a President of the Manchester Microscopical Society. Intriguingly, although the Redmaynes were Quakers (Society of Friends), Sarah Redmayne was baptized in the Anglican church of All Souls, Bolton, on February 25, 1880.

The 1881 Royal Microscopical Society President’s Address, given by Lionel Beale, included a brief, inaccurate eulogy of Redmayne. “John Thomas Redmayne, of Bolton, L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S., died in October last at the age of thirty-three. One who was well acquainted with him says that he was a most skilful microscopist, and devotedly fond of the work. He was also an excellent microphotographer. The Bolton Microscopical Society was founded by Mr. Redmayne, and, as his friend remarks, had he lived he would undoubtedly have taken a high place in the scientific world.”

Far better commentaries on John Redmayne and his microscopy work were published by those who actually knew the man:

The Northern Microscopist report of the November 19, 1880 Annual Conversazione of the Bolton Microscopical Society stated, “The table possessing a feature of melancholy interest was that covered with the microscopes and rich work of the late Dr. Redmayne, one of the founders of this Society. The presence of his photo-micrographs, the varied assortment of pathological preparations and rare diatoms made it hard to believe that he was not present also.“

At the Conversazione, the Society’s Secretary, William Rideout, delivered the following words, “I cannot close my review of the work of the Society without referring to the great loss which we, as a Society, have sustained by the long illness and death of our talented and much-lamented treasurer, Dr. Redmayne. During the whole time since the formation of the Society he had its well-being at heart, and few knew better than myself how deeply he regretted that he was prevented from assisting in the work of the Society by his failing health. I am sure that each member of the Society felt that he had lost a dear friend when he heard that the doctor was no more. His pleasant smile and genial manner will long be remembered by us, and failing this his name will live as the founder of the Bolton Microscopical Society.”

The Northern Microscopist also reported, in the summer of 1881, “Bolton Microscopical Society - Although this Society enjoys a Summer holiday during the months of June, July, and August, the work is not entirely suspended, for the valuable collection of Slides now in possession of the Society is being re-arranged owing to several recent additions; the most noticeable of which is the gift of six dozen choice Slides by Mrs. Redmayne, from the valuable collection of the late Dr Redmayne, the founder of the Society. In order that the most suitable selection might be made, Mrs. Redmayne kindly placed the whole collection in the hands of the President and the Secretary of the Society for this purpose. Forty eight choice Slides of Diatoms have also been added, so that the members to whom the Slides are lent, will have ample occupation for leisure hours during the winter evenings.”

Figure 7. Undated photographs of John Thomas Redmayne. Adapted for non-profit, educational use from http://family.manvell.org.uk/redmayne.htm.

Figure 8. Left: Plate 55, Actinosphenia halionyx, and Actionsphenia spendens, 500x. Right: Plate 78, Heliopelta and Actinoptychus undulatus, 500x. Adapted with permission, from http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Figure 9. Left: Plate 58, Triceratum favus var spetanghulatum, 500x. Right: Plate 59, Triceratum inflatum, 500x. Adapted with permission, from http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Figure 10. Plate 31, Cymbella gastroides, 500x. Adapted with permission, from http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Figure 11. Left: Plate 63, Trinacria regina and Trinacria excavata, 500x. Right: Plate 64, Hemialus alatus and Actinocyclus ralfsii, 500x. Adapted with permission, from http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Acknowledgements

Resources

The American Naturalist (1876) Collecting diatoms, Vol. 10, page 567.

Baptism record of Sarah Fielden Hyatt Redmayne (1880) All Souls Church, Bolton, accessed through The Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks Project, http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Bolton-le-Moors/Little-Bolton/allsouls/baptisms_1879-1888.html

Berdan, Robert (accessed 2017) Photomicrographs of Diatoms from 1877 by John T. Redmayne, http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Redmayne_diatoms.html.

Bracegirdle, Brian (1998) Microscopical Mounts and Mounters, Quekett Microscopical Society, London, pages 79, 164 and 166, plate 30 slide N and plate 31 slides C and D.

Davis, George E. (1881) Photo-micrography, Northern Microscopist, Vol. 1, pages 73-82.

Davis, George E. (1889) Practical Microscopy, W.H. Allen & Co., London, pages 184 and 384.

English census, birth, marriage and death records, accessed through ancestry.co.uk.

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1874) Exchange offer from J. Redmayne, Vol. 10, page 192.

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1875) Exchange offer from J. Redmayne, Vol. 11, page 240.

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1878) Exchange offer from J. Redmayne, Vol. 14, page 168.

http://family.manvell.org.uk/redmayne.htm (accessed December, 2012) Photographs of John Redmayne and family.

Johnson, G.J. (1883) Photomicrography, The Microscopical News and Northern Microscopist, Vol. 3, pages 113-121.

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1876) Admittance of John T. Redmayne, Vol. 4, page 201.

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1876) Donation of “An album of Micro-Photographs of Diatomaceae” by Mr. J. Redmayne, Vol. 4, page 240.

Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society (1877) Membership list, Vol. 2, page liv.

Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society (1881) President’s Address, Series 2, Vol. 1, pages 180-181.

The Lancet (1864) Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Preliminary Examinations, Vol. 2, October 15 Advertiser section.

Marriage record of one John Redmayne and Anne Barrett (1878) Information concluding that diatomist J.T. Redmayne was not the child of John and Margaret Redmayne, Parish records of Kirkby Overblow, accessed through ancestry.co.uk.

The Medical Press and Circular (1867) Royal College of Surgeons of England – results of examinations, May 22, pages 497-498.

The Medical Press and Circular (1869) Royal College of Surgeons of England – diplomas and new members, January 27, page 75.

The Medical Register (1874) Redmayne John Thomas, Astley bank, Bolton, Lancashire, Mem. R. Coll. Surg. Eng. 1869, Lic. R. Coll. Phys. Edin. 1873, page 422.

The Medical Times and Gazette (1867) Royal College of Surgeons of England – results of examinations, Vol. 1, pages 538-539.

The Monthly Microscopical Journal (1877) Donation to the Royal Microscopical Society of “Micro-photographs from the Diatomaceae, By J. Redmayne”, Vol. 17, page 222.

Museum of the History of Science Collection Records (accessed December, 2012), “Published Album of Photographs (Albumen Prints, Photomicrographs) of Diatoms, by John Redmayne, Bolton, c.1878”, described as “John Redmayne, Micro-Photographs from the Diatomaceae (Bolton, privately published, undated). Bound in dark blue-green cloth. Flyleaf + printed introduction leaf + blank leaf + 65 heavy paper leaves each with a mounted photograph + flyleaf. Thus contains only 1 page of introductory text, and 65 photographs (albumen prints) of diatoms, each captioned by a printed label on the mount. The photographs are mostly brown with pale yellow backgrounds, and some are lilac colour; they are all just under 5 x 4 inches. John Redmayne was elected to the Royal Microscopical Society in 1877, but recorded in their membership list as dead in October 1880. He lived at Bolton and was a surgeon, being a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The diatoms photographed were mostly from J. D. Möller's Typen-Platte, a prepared collection of specimens mounted on microscope slides. Redmayne's volume was presumably acquired by the society at the time it was issued, and a manuscript description of the diatoms depicted, by E. W. Burgess, dated 1882, was also formerly in the RMS library.”, https://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/collections/search/displayrecord/?mode=displaymixed&module=ecatalogue&irn=29170

Nonie family tree (accessed December, 2012) Information concluding that diatomist/surgeon John Thomas Redmayne was not the child of John and Margaret Redmayne, http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/21397784/person/18618218503?ssrc=

The Northern Microscopist (1881) Notices of Meetings – Bolton Microscopical Society, Vol. 1, pages 12-13.

The Northern Microscopist (1881) Bolton Microscopical Society, Vol. 1, page 167.

Probate record of the Will of John Thomas Redmayne (1880) accessed through ancestry.co.uk.

Redmayne, John (1875) Diatom collecting, Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip, Vol. 11, page 152.

Redmayne, John (1877) Micro-photographs from the diatomaceae, Redmayne, Bolton.

Taylor, John E. (1889) The Playtime Naturalist, Appleton & Co., New York, pages 258-261.