David Gregory (mathematician)
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| David Gregory | |
 David Gregory (1659-1708)
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| Born | June 3, 1659 Aberdeen, Scotland |
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| Died | October 10, 1708 Maidenhead, Berkshire, England |
| Residence | England |
| Nationality | Scotland |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Edinburgh University of Oxford |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Doctoral students | John Keill John Craig |
| Known for | Development of infinite series |
| Influences | Isaac Newton |
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Notes
He is the nephew of James Gregory. |
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David Gregory (June 3, 1659 – October 10, 1708) was a professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, and a commentator on Isaac Newton's Principia.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, the nephew of astronomer and mathematician James Gregory, Gregory studied at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, from 1671 to 1675, beginning when he was only 12 years old. (There is, however, no evidence that he received a degree.) After his university studies, still only 16 years old, Gregory visited several countries on the continent and did not return to Scotland until 1683. At the age of 24 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh. David Gregory was also the uncle of philosopher Thomas Reid.
In 1690, during a period of political and religious unrest in Scotland, Gregory decided to leave for England where, in 1691, he was elected Savilian Professor at the University of Oxford, due in large part to the influence of [saac Newton. The same year he was elected to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1692, he was elected a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
[edit] External links
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "David Gregory (mathematician)", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
- Significant Scots: David Gregory
- Papers of David Gregory
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