Elementary Vector Analysis With Application to Geometry and Physics

ISBN: 9781330407523 出版年：2016 页码：210 C E Weatherburn Forgotten Books

The son gave early evidence of genius, being a remarkable linguist and displaying great mathematical talent. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1824, where he had a brilliant and unprecedented career. His ability was so conspicuous that in 1827, while still an undergraduate, he was asked to apply for the vacant Andrews' Professorship of Astronomy in the Uni versity of Dublin, and was appointed to the position. He was not specially qualified as a practical astronomer; but the con ditions of his appointment allowed him to advance the cause of Science in the way he felt best able to do so. In 1835, while acting as secretary to the at its meeting in Dublin, he received a knighthood; and two years later the importance of his scientific work was recognised by his election as President of the Royal Irish Academy. His mathematical work continued uninterrupted till his death on 2nd September, 1865, at the age of sixty. It often happens that we get our most important ideas while not formally working at a subject, perhaps while walking in the country or by the sea, or even in more commonplace surroundings. From a letter of Hamilton's we learn that, on l6th October, 1843, while he was walking beside the Royal Canal on his way to preside at a meeting of the Academy, the thought flashed into his mind which gave the key to a problem that had been occupying his thoughts, and led to the birth and development of the subject of Quaternions. He announced the discovery at that meeting of the Academy, and asked per mission to read a paper on quaternions at the next, which he. Did on 13th November. During the next few years he expanded the subject, and published his Lectures on Quaternions in 1853, while the Elements of Quaternions appeared in 1866, soon after his death.