Mr. Roger Brown, uncle of Sir John Brown, who was a famous man in Sheffield when he was quite young, lived in an age when books were extremely scarce and dear, but showed great zest in study and became a remarkably well-read and well-informed man, and very fond of scientific research.  He began his experiments on the steam engine fifty years prior to his death, and, following that, devoted himself to improving the magnet, many of his improvements in this direction being sent to the great silver mines of Mexico.  Through his study of electricity, he became justly famous in the district, and his house was always crowded when he invited his friends to witness demonstrations of his discoveries.  Hydrostatics, pneumatics and astronomy also found places in his scheme of self culture, and his magnetic lightning conductor came into very general use about that period.  He died in 1873.