John Wallis and Isaac Barrow
John Wallis and Isaac Barrow were two of the most well respected mathematicians of their time. John Wallis wrote many books and introduced several symbols and theories that are still used today. Isaac Barrow on the other hand made his contributions through teaching and giving lectures. He influenced many great minds and tutored Isaac Newton. These two men made significant contributions to advance the field of mathematics.
John Wallis was the most influential mathematician before Newton. Wallis had a short intense childhood. His schooling was intense and very complete. Thanks to his schooling he was able to contribute a number of books and hold important positions that allowed him to influence future generations of mathmaticians. John Wallis was a revered man.
John Wallis had a short Childhood. Wallis was born November 23, 1616 in Ashford, Kent, England. He was the third of five children. His father was the reverend John Wallis, minister of Ashford. His childhood was cut short when his father died in 1622. John was only six years of age when his grieving mother sent him to school.
John Wallis had an enormous appetite for learning that was fed through his intense schooling. He started out attending school in Ashford, but due to an outbreak of the plague his mother decided to send him away. He ended up attending Movat’s School of Grammar in Tenderen, Kent in 1625. John’s skills grew rapidly. Although he considered himself ready for university at only 13, he spent two more years a Martin Holbeachs school in Essex. At Holbeach he studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew and logic. In 1623 he entered Emmanuel College Cambridge and took a wide variety of subjects. In
1637 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his studies receiving his Masters Degree in 1640. John Wallis’ schooling was top notch.
John Wallis was able to gain considerable fame for his many accomplishments. He got his first major job as a cryptologist after deciphering a secret Royalist message for the parliamentarians. He helped create the Royal Society of London, which was a group that met to discuss the latest issues in science. Wallis’ Mathematical career took off when he read Oughtred’s Clavis Mathematicae in 1647. He wrote the book Treatise of Angular Sections that remained unpublished for 40 years. He discovered methods of solving equations degree four. Wallis was even appointed to the Savilian Chair of geometry at Oxford in 1649. Then in 1657 he was also appointed Keeper of University archives. Wallis most famous work was Arithmetica Infinitorum, which was published in 1656. Arithmetica Infinitorum established his well known formula /2 = (2.2.4.4.6.6.8.8.10..)/(1.3.3.5.5.7.7.9.9...) . He also introduced the sign ¥, which represents the infinite curve. Other works included Tract on Conic Sections that described the curves that are obtained as cross sections by cutting a cone with a plane as properties of algebraic coordinates, and Treatise on Algebra that was actually a historical work where he teaches the history of geometry and proves many of the popular theories. John Wallis productive career ended with his death in 1703.
Isaac Barrow is one of the least known but still influential mathematicians ever. His lectures influenced many of the great young minds. He made contributions to modern science joining the Royal Society. He also wrote many books that for many years were standards of teaching. Isaac Barrow was a very influential man who was not well known outside his field.
Isaac Barrow was born Oct 1630. His father Thomas Barrow was a linen draper by trade. In 1634 Isaac’s mother, Ann, died and Isaac was sent to live with his grandfather so he wouldn’t get sick. Isaac planned to be a scholar even as a child.
Isaac Barrow’s education wasn’t always a great success. Isaac was first schooled at Charterhouse where his father paid twice the normal tuition so he would receive special attention. He never received this and became a bully instead. Because of this he was then sent to Felstead, Essex in 1640 where Isaac’s focus was forced. At Felstead he learned Greek, Latin and Hebrew. Due to this intense work in1643 Barrow was accepted and became a foundation scholar at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was then forced to leave due to a lack of money and went to Oxford in 1644. Once there Isaac was broke, but was tutored for free by Duport, a Professor of Greek, who saw much potential in him. He studied Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, literature, chronology, geography, and theology. Barrow graduated in 1649. He immediately started studying mathematics at Cambridge. In 1652 Barrow finished his education and graduated with his M.A. Barrow’s education had its hitches but was complete.
Isaac Barrow was well respected and influenced many people through his lectures and books. One of his first was a simplified version of Euclid’s Elements, which was printed in 1655 and remained a standard textbook for many years. Also in 1655 Barrow received an award to travel the world for 3 years to further his learning. While away Barrow studied coins and acquired an expertise as a collector. Barrow arrived back at Cambridge in 1659. Once there he was offered the job of Professor of Greek at Cambridge. Soon after he won the job as Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, which he held along with Professorship at Cambridge. Another major accomplishment was his acceptance into the Royal Society. In 1663 Barrow was granted the position of Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge relinquishing his title of Professor of Greek. But perhaps Isaac Barrow’s important work was tutoring and influencing a young Isaac Newton. After Barrow was granted Professor of Mathematics he went on a spree of well know lectures. These lectures were attended by some of the world’s most promising youth mathematicians. Not the least of which was Isaac Newton. Newton actually published many of Barrow’s lectures and the two held private discussions together. In these discussions Barrow encouraged Newton to stick with mathematics and gave him much information and guidance to help him. This is probably Isaac Barrow’s greatest contribution to mathematics, as we know it today. Isaac Barrow’s accomplishments were influential to modern mathematics and science.
John Wallis and Isaac Barrow were two of the most well known mathematicians. John Wallis made many scientific contributions. He created many formulas and symbols, which are still used. He also wrote a great many books, which were well known for many years. The most famous of these was Arithmatica Infinitorum and Treatise on Algebra. Isaac Barrow made his fame by another means. He was most famous for his lectures. These lectures were attended by many promising you people and encouraged them to expand the world of mathematics. Barrow also had several famous books like Elements that was a standard textbook for many years. John Wallis and Isaac Barrow will always be remembered for their great contributions to the world of mathematics.
O’connor, JJ “Isaac Barrow” < http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Barrow.html >
O’connor, JJ “John Wallis” < http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Wallis.html >