Mr Foggo's Astronomy classes for Young Ladies, 1823

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

No really. From The Scotsman, 8 November 1823:

HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND ASTRONOMY.

Mr FOGGO will open a PRIVATE CLASS for Young Ladies, for the above Branches of Education, on Tuesday the 11th of November, from 3 to 4 o’Clock.—During the Course, which will endeavour to convey to his Pupils clear and distinct idea of the various Phenomena of the Solar System; and by Mechanical Agency, brought forward by new Calculations, and at great expense, will show the Revolutions of the Planets, with their Satellites, in exact proportional times—the Rotation and Parallelism of their Axes—the Times of their Apogee and Perigee—the Eclipses and Obscurations of the Satellites—the various Phases of the Moon—the Shifting of the Nodes—the Causes of the Tides, &c.; which with the occasional introduction of Appropriate Experiments, Mr F. trusts will render the Course pleasing as well as instructive.

Mr F. has another Private Class for Young Ladies, for ENGLISH GRAMMAR, GEOGRAPHY, and HISTORY, from 2 to 3; and one for Young Gentlemen,from 5 to 6 p.m.—Hours for the Public School, from 9 to 11, and from 12 to 2.

Edinburgh, 10, Elder Street.

(I have been at the old newspapers again, as you can see. )

I'm not sure why I was surprised to see this: it was Edinburgh, after all.

An advert for Astronomy lessons fits just nicely among those for Mr McCulloch's lectures on Political Economy; Mr Noble's classes in Geometry, Algebra and Fluxions; Messrs T & G Carlyle's for painting flowers from nature ("at any time of the year"); classes in the Alphabet, in Arithmetical Studies for Young Ladies, and in English Reading, Recitation and Grammar "for the accommodation of Young Gentlemen attending Latin, &c. who may have neglected their English in pursuit of their other studies".

Only me, then...

Hello! I’ve recently joined Mumsnet and am just browsing History Club. It must be one of the quietest bits of MN…I love your excerpt and it’s great to hear of Young Ladies being offered a class in a science subject 200 years ago. Do you know anything else about Mr Foggo?

How nice to see someone here!

And what lovely timing: as it happens I was recently looking at some other material about the Foggos.

Shan't try to make sense of it tonight, but I'll try to pop back with something in the next few days.

To whet your appetite, this appears to have been one of Mr Foggo's wedding presents:
https://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-100-002-796-C&scache=4vao531hge&searchdb=scran

Mr Foggo was probably from a teaching dynasty, as it was a profession which ran in families and there were two teachers by that name in Edinburgh in 1823. The "Mr Foggo" at 10 Elder Street was David Foggo.

On 14 August 1810, he married Jemima Jessie Macdonald, a granddaughter of the famous Scottish fiddler, Niel Gow. This matches the inscription on Niel Gow's punch ladle above, hence the assumption it was given as a wedding present.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niel_Gow

The wedding gift is a good sign, because Niel Gow left his whole estate to Jemima in liferent (ie she received the interest or rents), and to her future children in fee (ie they'd receive the money outright) – but only if she married "with Her Mothers Approbation".

It looks like she did!

Niel Gow's will:
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-a-z/gow-niel

In 1828, the Foggos – by then with at least six children – suffered a huge financial blow. David appears to have stood surety for someone, and become liable to pay. He's not technically bankrupt, but surrenders his whole estate to a trustee as if he is.

From the Edinburgh Evening Courant, 3 May 1828:

To the creditors of Mr David Foggo, Teacher in Edinburgh.

Mr Foggo having found it necessary, in consequence principally of a sudden demand resulting from a heavy cautionary obligation, to execute a trust conveyance of his estate and effects in favour of Alexander Macredie, bookseller in Edinburgh, for the equal benefit of his Creditors, the Trustee requests the attendance of those Creditors, or their Agents, at a meeting to be held in Mrs Chambers’ Tavern, 10, South St Andrew’s Street, on Friday next, the 9th instant, at one o’clock P,M., when the trust-deed, with such a view of affairs as the Trustee may be enabled in the interval to prepare, will be submitted for the consideration and directions of the meeting.

In 1834 he's still teaching at his academy in 10 Elder Street. The school prizes in the Ladies Class go to Miss Agnes Winter, Beaumont Place, as dux of the Highest Class of Young Ladies; and Miss Mary Clark, Cumberland Street, dux in Arithmetic.

In 1835 he moves to Perth and opens a new academy at 14, Rose Terrace.

Perthshire Courier, 13 Aug 1835:

EDUCATION.
ROSE TERRACE.

Mr. Foggo, from Edinburgh, begs to inform the Citizens of Perth, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in its vicinity, that he intends to Open Classes for English Grammar and Composition, History, Geography, and Astronomy, on the 1st of September next, in that Room, No. 14, formerly occupied by the Rev. Mr Tulloch. As these Classes are principally intended for such Young Ladies and Gentlemen as may already have made some progress in the above branches of Education, they will, of course be private.—and can only employ a few hours each day of Mr Foggo’s time. He will, therefore, Open Junior Classes for initiating in English Reading, Orthography, Recitation, Grammar, and Sacred History, from 9 to 11 o’clock A.M., and from 1 to 3 P.M. The Rudiments will be taught on the latest and most approved plan.

The Text Books for the Geography and Astronomy are of Mr F.’s compiling, Criticisms on which will be found at the end of his Testimonials at present in circulation.

N.B. —Private Tuition in Families.
Perth, 12th Aug. 1835.

He's clearly dedicated to the cause – or spotted a gap in the market – because by 1836, our Mr Foggo has published a textbook on astronomy.

Perthshire Constitutional & Journal, 29 Jun 1836:

REVIEWS.
Elements of Astronomy. By David Foggo, Teacher (now in Perth) of English Grammar, History, Geography, and Astronomy. [...]

This is one of the best school manuals we have seen on the subject. It compresses into small compass a neatly arranged compendium of a vast variety of astronomical and geographical facts, only to be found in general dispersed through a great multitude of voluminous works, and which yet constitute the very elements of a student’s knowledge. Judging Mr. Foggo’s character as a teacher from the plain, unpretending good sense of his astronomy, we should be disposed to predicate very highly of it; and we are glad to learn that, in Perth, his merits are likely to be suitably appreciated.

What a stunning amount of information about Mr Foggo! Did you just happen upon him whilst reading old newspapers? Or is a search by name within newspapers possible?

The 1828 case reminds me of a sub-plot in a novel by Trollope ( can’t remember which one).

I wonder if the range of subjects offered, to Young Ladies as well as Gentlemen, reflects wider education in Scotland, as compared to England?

Oh how interesting about the Trollope novel!

Yes, the old newspapers are searchable by name, thanks to the wonders of Optical Character Recognition. Let me introduce you to the addiction that is the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

You may never emerge above ground again...

Oh my goodness. I can foresee…House not tidied. To Do list not consulted….

Even with a glance I can see there are hits for a family I’m interested in. Thank you so much!

If you never return to this thread, we'll know why.

They'll be sending out search parties for you after the third day.

I've found another article explaining a bit more about the move to Perth, and about Mr Foggo's teaching before then. "Natural Philosophy" was the term for science, and "Mechanical Philosophy" is probably Newtonian mechanics (the maths and physics one needs to understand planetary motion).

David Foggo's daughters also became teachers – of singing, piano and French, among other attainments. One had started her own school at 14 Rose Terrace before her parents joined her in Perth.

Perthshire Constitutional & Journal, 31 July 1835:

<span class="italic">NEW ESTABLISHMENT, </span>

14, ROSE TERRACE,

FOR THE BOARD AND EDUCATION OF YOUNG LADIES.

MISS FOGGO respectfully intimates to the Ladies of Perth and its Vicinity, that she will resume her Classes on the 31st of August next.

Miss F. being now joined by her Mother. will commence Teaching MUSIC IN CLASSES, the Elementary parts on the Logierian System.

Private Teaching as usual.

In addition to the Branches formerly announced, Miss F. will open a Class for ASTRONOMY, which will embrace the higher parts of GEOGRAPHY, and the more popular parts of NATURAL and MECHANICAL PHILOSOPHY. This Class will be taught by Mr Foggo, from Edinburgh, on the same plan which he has conducted these Branches of Education in Mrs Bertram’s Boarding School, Newington House, for the last eight years.

Card from Mrs Bertram to Mr Foggo.
"MRS BERTRAM presents her compliments to Mr Foggo, and, though regretting extremely his intended departure from Edinburgh, has much pleasure in stating, that she has been perfectly satisfied with the regularity of his attendance during the eight years that he has given lessons in Geography and Astronomy to Young Ladies under her charge,—while the zeal and ability displayed in his method of conveying instruction have been such as to merit her entire approbation, and to secure the respect of his Pupils."
NEWINGTON HOUSE, }
30th June, 1835. }

At the breaking up of Miss Foggo's Classes, the Medals and other Premiums were awarded to the following Young Ladies:—
For Theory of Music—Miss Jessie Malcom, Rose Terrace.
For Geography—Miss Touch. Kinnoull Manse.
2d ditto—Miss E. Dell, Athole Street.
First Junior Class—Miss Maria Rose, St. Leonard's Bank.
Second Junior ditto—Miss Penelope Touch, Kinnoull Manse.
Third Junior ditto—Miss M. A. Laidlaw, Potter Hill.

Perth, 15th July, 1835.

Fascinating! Where do you source your old newspapers? All online?

I've been known to purchase the odd one of it had an article in that I'm interested in learning more about

Happy New Year, @PickledOwl1 !

Yes, newspapers online at the marvellous British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

You can register, search it, and read some of the titles for free (eg the Caledonian Mercury), but most titles need a subscription to read.

Here's the (free) first Caledonian Mercury of the New Year, 5 Jan 1725:
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000045/17250105/001/0001

@SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman HNY to you too!

Ooh lovely thank you. I'll have a peruse. I'm very interested in this period of time - well, anything Georgian ish onwards - so I'll enjoy having a peruse.

I tend to collect antique letters (a few of which I've shared on here) which are often fascinating

Ooh, fantastic hobby!

I feel I should stick with electronic versions only, for my own good...
<looks round at clutter>