He studied and learnt as much as he could.
He was very anxious to get an insight into knowledge.

He studied optics before he had any teaching.

Then he tried to turn his knowledge to account.

While at Kirpenbeck he made his first object-glass out of a thick tumbler bottom.

He ground the glass cleverly by hand; then he got a piece of tin and soldered it together, and mounted the object-glass in it so as to form a telescope.
"He next got a situation at the Rev.Mr.Shapkley's school in Micklegate, York, where he taught mathematics.