Election certificate for Ardaseer Cursetjee to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
The citation reads:
"Ardaseer Cursetjee Esquire Ship Builder of Bombay lately in England having undertaken the journey to this country at his own expense in order to perfect himself in the knowledge of the Steam, as applicable to Navigation and to acquaint himself with the arts and manufactures of Europe with the view of improving his own country and his countrymen, a Gentleman well versed in the theory and practice of naval architecture and devoted to scientific pursuits, having introduced Lighting by Gas into Bombay where he perfected a small Gas establishment aided exclusively by native workmen; having also at his own charge built a vessel of sixty Tons to which he adapted a Steam Engine sent out from this country, and manufactured and fitted every other part of the machinery and navigated the vessel [...] entirely with native workmen and Engine men, chiefly instructed and trained by himself ; and having otherwise promoted Science and the useful arts in his own country to which he has just returned, having while in England obtained the appointment of principal Inspector of Steam Machinery to the East India Company, being desirous of becoming a fellow of the Royal Society.
We whose names are hereunto subscribed do of our own personal knowledge consider him as deserving of that honor, as likely to become a valuable and useful member - And we beg to recommend him from his peculiar situation, and the proofs he has given of his desire to extend natural knowledge in India. Dated this twenty seventh day of March 1841"
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