SCOTT, Irving Murray, mechanical engineer, born in Hebron Mills, Baltimore County, Maryland, 25 December, 1837. He was educated at Milton academy, Maryland, and the Baltimore mechanics' institute, and in 1854 entered the manufactory of Obed Hussey, the inventor of reaping machines, where he made rapid progress in the machinist's art, and perfected himself in the different methods of working in iron and wood. In 1.857 he gained admittance to the iron-works of a Baltimore firm. There he soon became an expert draughtsman, and was placed in charge of the construction of stationary and fire engines. He also devoted all his leisure moments to reading and study. In 1858 he was engaged as draughtsman at the Union iron-works, San Francisco, California, where he remained until 1862. About that time the construction of improved quartz-mining machinery became one of the most import, ant branches of mechanical industry in that state. Desiring to become practically acquainted with it, he spent a year at the Miners' foundry in the same city, returning to the Union works in 1863, when he was made superintendent. In 1865 he became a partner, and in 1875 the business was reorganized under the title of Prescott, Scott and Co. Soon afterward the new firm erected extensive works at Potrero. These were constructed under the immediate supervision of Mr. Scott, and he designed the machinery by means of which the treasures of the Comstock mines have been extracted, including that used in the pumping, milling, reducing, and refining works, in connection with James G. Fair and William H. Patten, a mining engineer. He has also invented the Scott and Eckart and Scott and O'Neil cut-off engines, a Union heater, a safety-valve chock, and an air-valve for compressor. Mr. Scott has been president of the Mechanics' institute and of the Art association of San Francisco during three terms each. He is a regent of the University of California and a trustee of the Leland Stanford, Jr., university.