Jump to content

George Anderson (mathematician): Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
dab-needed tag
Changed missing years to unknown, too far back
 
(4 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|English mathematician}}
{{short description|English mathematician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''George Anderson''' (born ca. 1720)<ref name=asalb>Willem Nicolaas du Rieu (comp.), ''Album Studiosorum Academiae Lugduno Batavae MDLXXV—MDCCCLXXV, accedunt nomina curatorum et professorum per eadem secula.'' The Hague: [[Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|Martinus Nijhoff]], 1875, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Pwt9WJ-KInoC&pg=RA2-PA981 col. 982].</ref> was an English<ref name=asalb/> [[mathematician]], about whom nothing is known beyond what is contained in eight letters addressed by him to the celebrated mathematician [[William Jones (mathematician)|William Jones]] (father of the [[Oriental studies|orientalist]] [[Sir William Jones]]), which were printed from the [[Earl of Macclesfield|Macclesfield]] papers in 1841.<ref>[[Stephen Peter Rigaud]] (ed.), ''Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Including Letters of Barrow, Flamsteed, Wallis, and Newton, Printed from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield. In Two Volumes.'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover Vol. I]. Oxford: [[Oxford University Press]], 1841.</ref> They give proof of singular ability in treating the most advanced mathematical problems of the time, and by many indications show the writer (contrary to an editorial surmise)<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA297 p. 297].</ref> to have occupied a respectable position in life.<ref>[[Augustus De Morgan]], "George Anderson". In ''The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.'' Volume II. Part II. London: [[Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans]], 1843, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0xIIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA576 p. 576].</ref> The first three are dated from [[Twickenham]], August to October 1736; the two from 1739 were sent from [[Hothfield]] and [[Newbottle]]{{dn|date=October 2020}}, respectively; the last was written 27 September 1740, at [[Leyden]], where the writer, now aged 20 and enrolled as a law student since 12 September,<ref name=asalb/><ref>[[Edward Peacock (antiquary)|Edward Peacock]] (comp.), ''Index to English Speaking Students Who Have Graduated'' [recte: ''Matriculated''] ''at Leyden University.'' London: Longmans, Green & Со., 1883 (Index Society Publications, 13), [https://books.google.com/books?id=MJVEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA3 p. 3].</ref> had just entered upon a "train of studies and exercises"<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA360 p. 360].</ref> at the [[Leiden University|university]]. He expressed in 1739 a strong desire to be admitted to the [[Royal Society]], but his name does not appear upon the list of its members.<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA352 pp. 352–353].</ref>
'''George Anderson''' (born ca. 1720)<ref name=asalb>Willem Nicolaas du Rieu (comp.), ''Album Studiosorum Academiae Lugduno Batavae MDLXXV—MDCCCLXXV, accedunt nomina curatorum et professorum per eadem secula.'' The Hague: [[Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|Martinus Nijhoff]], 1875, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Pwt9WJ-KInoC&pg=RA2-PA981 col. 982].</ref> was an English<ref name=asalb/> [[mathematician]], about whom nothing is known beyond what is contained in eight letters addressed by him to the celebrated mathematician [[William Jones (mathematician)|William Jones]] (father of the [[Oriental studies|orientalist]] [[Sir William Jones]]), which were printed from the [[Earl of Macclesfield|Macclesfield]] papers in 1841.<ref>[[Stephen Peter Rigaud]] (ed.), ''Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Including Letters of Barrow, Flamsteed, Wallis, and Newton, Printed from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield. In Two Volumes.'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ Vol. I]. Oxford: [[Oxford University Press]], 1841.</ref> They give proof of singular ability in treating the most advanced mathematical problems of the time, and by many indications show the writer (contrary to an editorial surmise)<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA297 p. 297].</ref> to have occupied a respectable position in life.<ref>[[Augustus De Morgan]], "George Anderson". In ''The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.'' Volume II. Part II. London: [[Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans]], 1843, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0xIIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA576 p. 576].</ref> The first three are dated from [[Twickenham]], August to October 1736; the two from 1739 were sent from [[Hothfield]] and Newbottle,{{efn|There are two places called Newbottle: [[Newbottle, Northamptonshire]] and [[Newbottle, Tyne and Wear]]. The printed copy of the letter does not say which one this was.}} respectively; the last was written 27 September 1740, at [[Leyden]], where the writer, now aged 20 and enrolled as a law student since 12 September,<ref name=asalb/><ref>[[Edward Peacock (antiquary)|Edward Peacock]] (comp.), ''Index to English Speaking Students Who Have Graduated'' [recte: ''Matriculated''] ''at Leyden University.'' London: Longmans, Green & Со., 1883 (Index Society Publications, 13), [https://books.google.com/books?id=MJVEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA3 p. 3].</ref> had just entered upon a "train of studies and exercises"<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA360 p. 360].</ref> at the [[Leiden University|university]]. He expressed in 1739 a strong desire to be admitted to the [[Royal Society]], but his name does not appear upon the list of its members.<ref>Rigaud, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA352 pp. 352–353].</ref>


==Letters==
==Letters==
Line 7: Line 8:
!style="text-align:left;"|#!!Page Range!!style="text-align:left;"|Date!!style="text-align:left;"|Contents<ref>Augustus De Morgan (comp.), ''Contents of the Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Printed at the University Press, Oxford, in Two Volumes Octavo, 1841, Under the Superintendence of the Late Professor Rigaud, from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1862, [https://books.google.com/books?id=iA9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA12 pp. 12–14].</ref>
!style="text-align:left;"|#!!Page Range!!style="text-align:left;"|Date!!style="text-align:left;"|Contents<ref>Augustus De Morgan (comp.), ''Contents of the Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Printed at the University Press, Oxford, in Two Volumes Octavo, 1841, Under the Superintendence of the Late Professor Rigaud, from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1862, [https://books.google.com/books?id=iA9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA12 pp. 12–14].</ref>
|-
|-
|CIX||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA293 293–297]||July 21, 1736||Criticism of [[Edmond Halley|Halley]]'s paper on [[logarithm]]s.
|CIX||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA293 293–297]||21 July 1736||Criticism of [[Edmond Halley|Halley]]'s paper on [[logarithm]]s.
|-
|-
|CXII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA301 301–305]||August 28, 1736||[Samuel] Cunn's [[Series (mathematics)|series]] for [[Ellipse#Circumference|periphery of ellipse]], and other [[Quadrature (mathematics)|quadratures]]. [[Equation]] of payments.
|CXII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA301 301–305]||28 August 1736||[Samuel] Cunn's [[Series (mathematics)|series]] for [[Ellipse#Circumference|periphery of ellipse]], and other [[Quadrature (mathematics)|quadratures]]. [[Equation]] of payments.
|-
|-
|CXIII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA306 306–310]||October 28, 1736||Further quadratures.
|CXIII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA306 306–310]||28 October 1736||Further quadratures.
|-
|-
|CXIV||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA311 311–312]||no date||[[Area]] of [[spherical triangle]] by [[fluxion]]s.
|CXIV||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA311 311–312]||no date||[[Area]] of [[spherical triangle]] by [[fluxion]]s.
|-
|-
|CXVI||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA319 319–323]||January 31, 1737 ([[Old Style and New Style dates|N.S.]] 1738)||Demonstration of a theorem of [[Abraham de Moivre|De Moivre]]. Solution of [[Thomas Simpson|Simpson's]] problem.
|CXVI||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA319 319–323]||31 January 1737 ([[Old Style and New Style dates|N.S.]] 1738)||Demonstration of a theorem of [[Abraham de Moivre|De Moivre]]. Solution of [[Thomas Simpson|Simpson's]] problem.
|-
|-
|CXXII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA342 342–346]||May 10, 1739||Formulæ for [[Approximation#Mathematics|approximate solution]] of equations.
|CXXII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA342 342–346]||10 May 1739||Formulæ for [[Approximation#Mathematics|approximate solution]] of equations.
|-
|-
|CXXIII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA346 346–353]||September 17, 1739||Private affairs. Problems in quadratures.
|CXXIII||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA346 346–353]||17 September 1739||Private affairs. Problems in quadratures.
|-
|-
|CXXVI||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA360 360–366]||September 16 (N.S. 27), 1740||Formulæ for logarithms. Quadrature of [[Lune (geometry)|lunales]]. Leyden booksellers. Inquiry about the [[wedge]].
|CXXVI||[https://books.google.com/books?id=gw9UAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA360 360–366]||16 (N.S. 27) September 1740||Formulæ for logarithms. Quadrature of [[Lune (geometry)|lunales]]. Leyden booksellers. Inquiry about the [[wedge]].
|}
|}

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 32: Line 36:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, George}}
[[Category:18th-century English mathematicians]]
[[Category:18th-century English mathematicians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]




Latest revision as of 11:53, 2 December 2023

George Anderson (born ca. 1720)[1] was an English[1] mathematician, about whom nothing is known beyond what is contained in eight letters addressed by him to the celebrated mathematician William Jones (father of the orientalist Sir William Jones), which were printed from the Macclesfield papers in 1841.[2] They give proof of singular ability in treating the most advanced mathematical problems of the time, and by many indications show the writer (contrary to an editorial surmise)[3] to have occupied a respectable position in life.[4] The first three are dated from Twickenham, August to October 1736; the two from 1739 were sent from Hothfield and Newbottle,[a] respectively; the last was written 27 September 1740, at Leyden, where the writer, now aged 20 and enrolled as a law student since 12 September,[1][5] had just entered upon a "train of studies and exercises"[6] at the university. He expressed in 1739 a strong desire to be admitted to the Royal Society, but his name does not appear upon the list of its members.[7]

Letters

[edit]
# Page Range Date Contents[8]
CIX 293–297 21 July 1736 Criticism of Halley's paper on logarithms.
CXII 301–305 28 August 1736 [Samuel] Cunn's series for periphery of ellipse, and other quadratures. Equation of payments.
CXIII 306–310 28 October 1736 Further quadratures.
CXIV 311–312 no date Area of spherical triangle by fluxions.
CXVI 319–323 31 January 1737 (N.S. 1738) Demonstration of a theorem of De Moivre. Solution of Simpson's problem.
CXXII 342–346 10 May 1739 Formulæ for approximate solution of equations.
CXXIII 346–353 17 September 1739 Private affairs. Problems in quadratures.
CXXVI 360–366 16 (N.S. 27) September 1740 Formulæ for logarithms. Quadrature of lunales. Leyden booksellers. Inquiry about the wedge.

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ There are two places called Newbottle: Newbottle, Northamptonshire and Newbottle, Tyne and Wear. The printed copy of the letter does not say which one this was.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Willem Nicolaas du Rieu (comp.), Album Studiosorum Academiae Lugduno Batavae MDLXXV—MDCCCLXXV, accedunt nomina curatorum et professorum per eadem secula. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1875, col. 982.
  2. ^ Stephen Peter Rigaud (ed.), Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Including Letters of Barrow, Flamsteed, Wallis, and Newton, Printed from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1841.
  3. ^ Rigaud, p. 297.
  4. ^ Augustus De Morgan, "George Anderson". In The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Volume II. Part II. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1843, p. 576.
  5. ^ Edward Peacock (comp.), Index to English Speaking Students Who Have Graduated [recte: Matriculated] at Leyden University. London: Longmans, Green & Со., 1883 (Index Society Publications, 13), p. 3.
  6. ^ Rigaud, p. 360.
  7. ^ Rigaud, pp. 352–353.
  8. ^ Augustus De Morgan (comp.), Contents of the Correspondence of Scientific Men of the Seventeenth Century, Printed at the University Press, Oxford, in Two Volumes Octavo, 1841, Under the Superintendence of the Late Professor Rigaud, from the Originals in the Collection of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1862, pp. 12–14.
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Clerke, Agnes Mary (1885). "Anderson, George (fl.1740)". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 376.


Stub icon

This article about a United Kingdom mathematician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=George_Anderson_(mathematician)&oldid=1187940029"