Born to missionary parents in Ceylon, Mayor entered St John's in 1844, graduated third classic in 1848, and became a Fellow in 1849. For four years he was a master at Marlborough College, during which time he prepared the work on which his scholarly reputation rests, his edition of Juvenal's Satires. Unhappy at Marlborough, he returned to St John's in 1853 and remained there for the rest of his life. Here he devoted himself to his literary, antiquarian and classical interests, and in particular to the study of Cambridge history.

Despite being thought of as 'backward' as a child, Isaac Todhunter had a highly successful academic career. In 1842 he graduated from University College London, acquiting himself with distinction in mathematics, Greek and Hebrew. In 1844 he was admitted at St John's, and four years later graduated senior wrangler and won the first Smith's prize. A fellowship followed in 1849.

John Couch Adams entered St John's in 1839. At the end of his second year he decided to investigate the irregularities in the motion of Uranus in order to discover if they were due to the action of an unknown planet beyond it. Having graduated senior wrangler in 1843, and won a fellowship, Adams took up the problem in earnest. By October 1843, aged just 24, Adams had arrived at a solution of the inverse perturbation problem and although his first result was approximate, it convinced him that the disturbances of Uranus were due to an undiscovered planet.

Miles Bland studied mathematics at St John's, graduating in 1808 as second wrangler and Smith's prizeman. He was elected to a fellowship in the same year, and held various teaching positions in the College culminating in public examiner. He was also ordained, eventually becoming prebendary of Wells Cathedral in 1826. He published numerous popular mathematical textbooks including Algebraical problems.

Richard Duffield gained his BA from St John's in 1808, and his BD in 1819. He pursued a career in the Church, becoming Vicar of Impington in Cambridgeshire and later Rector of Frating with Thorington in Essex.

Christopher Stannard graduated BA from St John's in 1799, before proceeding MA and BD, and becoming a Fellow (1805-33). He was ordained and eventually became rector of St Peter's Hungate in Norwich and Great Snoring in Norfolk.

Stannard's bequest

Stannard left around 400 volumes to the College Library. These are chiefly 18th-century works on Anglican theology, but include some older items, such as contemporary works by Calvin, and a 16th-century herbal.

Provenance markings

James Wood was the first of several notable mathematicians to emerge from St John's in the late 18th and 19th centuries who left collections to the Library. He graduated in 1782 as senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman, and become a Fellow, proceeding MA in 1785, BD in 1793, and DD in 1815. During his sixty years residence he played a central role in the life of the College, serving as President and Master, as well as being a notable benefactor. He was also ordained, and became Dean of Ely in 1820. He produced several successful academic textbooks for students of mathematics.

Born in Lancashire, Isaac Pennington entered St John's in 1762, and became a Fellow in 1768. He gained his MA in 1770, and his MD in 1777, and served as Professor of Chemistry for twenty years, before becoming Professor of Physic for a further twenty. He was also physician to Addenbrooke's hospital and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

Pennington's bequest

Sir Soulden Lawrence graduated BA in 1771, before becoming a Fellow in 1774. He later became a pre-eminent lawyer and was knighted in 1794. In the same year he became a judge in the Court of Common Pleas, and then transferred to the King's Bench, where he served for fourteen years, before returning to the Common Pleas in 1808. During this time he was part of the special commission that tried John Horne Tooke for treason. He was also an art connoisseur, and had a notable collection of paintings.

Thomas Gisborne was admitted to St John's in 1744, and gained his BA in 1747, MA in 1751 and MD in 1758. He practised as a physician in St George's Hospital in London, before being admitted to the Royal College of Physicians, of which he later became president three times. During this time he was also physician to George III. At the time of his death he was senior fellow of St John's and left a large part of his library to the College, although all his medical books went to the library of the Royal College of Physicians.

Gisborne's bequest