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1850, January 10th
Died, at Bishopwearmouth, in Bridge-street, suddenly, aged 73, William Reid Clanny, esq., M.D., F.R.S., &c. The deceased had practised in Sunderland for upwards of forty-five years with great ability and success. In 1812 he turned his attention to the cause of the disastrous calamities in coal mines, and in the course of his studies he conceived the idea of a safety lamp, greatly different, however, from that at present in use. On the 1st October, 1813, his lamp was exhibited before the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle, and in 1815 it was tried in Merrington Pit with some success, but owing to its cumbrous form it never came into use. As, however, it was not until 1815 that either Sir Humphrey Davy or Mr. Stephenson commenced their investigations on explosive mixtures, it is clear that Dr. Clanny is entitled to considerable credit for his invention, and on February 3rd, 1848, he was presented with a testimonial, value £200, by the Marquis of Londonderry and other coal owners. The deceased contributed largely to medical literature, and for his valuable works in that department he received the ribbon of the Legion of Honour and many other badges of distinction. A few days before his death Dr. Clanny presented the Literary Society of Sunderland with portraits of George III, Archdeacon Paley, the Marquis of Londonderry, Baron Cuvier, and the donor himself, the latter being from a painting by Reay, in the Town Hall, presented to the deceased by the medical profession of Sunderland.
Source: LRLSources
LRL - Local Records by John Latimer. Published in 1857. Provides a "Historical Register of Remarkable Events", ordered by date - continues the work by John Sykes for the period 1832-1857.
SRTP - Sunderland - River, Town and People, A History from the 1780's to the Present Day. Edited by Geoffrey Milburn and Stuart Miller. Published in 1988 by Sunderland Borough Council. ISBN 0 947637 06 0
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