Lucien Wolf

“ His most valuable contribution to mechanical engineering was the expanding chuck, which is now found in almost every workshop, and attached to every lathe, although it is doubtful whether its inventor ever derived any pecuniary benefit from it. Many of Gompertz's inventions were designed to render the lives of animals easy and comfortable. ”

“ From 1806 he was a frequent contributor to the ‘Transactions’ of the Royal Society; but his early tracts on imaginary quantities and porisms (1817–18) , which first established his reputation as a mathematician, were declined by the society, and were printed and published at his own expense. In 1819 he was elected a F.R.S., and in 1832 became a member of the council. The foundation of the Astronomical Society in 1820 opened to Gompertz a fresh field of activity. ”

“ He was frequently consulted by government, and made elaborate computations for the army medical board. In 1848 he retired from active work and returned to his scientific labours. He was a member of numerous learned societies besides those already mentioned, and was also one of the promoters of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Of the leading Jewish charities he was a prominent member, and he worked out a plan of poor relief (Jewish Chronicle, 6 Oct. 1845) , which was afterwards adopted by the Jewish board of guardians. Gompertz died from a paralytic seizure on 14 July 1865. ”