Charles Watkins Merrifield facts for kids
Charles Watkins Merrifield (born October 20, 1827 – died January 1, 1884) was a very smart British mathematician. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a big honor for scientists. He lived in Hove, England.
Contents
Who Was Charles Merrifield?
Charles Merrifield was a brilliant mind who worked in several important areas. He started his career in law but soon moved into education and science. He was known for his mathematical skills and his dedication to helping others learn.
Early Life and Career
Charles Merrifield was born in 1827. He was the oldest son of Mary Philadelphia Merrifield, who was an author and artist. His brother, Frederick Merrifield, became a lawyer. Charles also had two nieces who were well-known: Margaret Verrall, a classical scholar, and Flora Merrifield, who worked for women's voting rights.
Charles first studied to become a lawyer. In 1847, he got a job in the Education Department of the Privy Council Office. Even though he qualified as a lawyer, he never practiced law. Instead, he quickly became an Examiner in the Education Department. He did this job very well and also found time for other scientific work.
Charles Merrifield was an early member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects. This group focuses on designing and building ships. He was the Honorary Secretary for many years. In 1875, he retired from this role and received a special thank you for his hard work.
His important mathematical papers, especially those about "elliptic integrals," helped him become a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1863. This is a very respected group of scientists.
Leading a School
In 1867, the government started the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in South Kensington. Charles Merrifield was asked to be the Vice-Principal. He planned to do this job only for a short time. However, when the Principal, Mr. Purkiss, sadly passed away, Charles was appointed as the Principal of the school.
In 1873, the school moved to Greenwich. After the move, Charles went back to his job as an Examiner in the Education Department.
Roles in Mathematical Societies
Charles Merrifield was also very active in important scientific groups.
- For the British Association's Section of Mechanical Science, he was the Vice-President at their meeting in Brighton in 1875. The next year, in 1876, he was the President at their meeting in Glasgow.
- He also served on a special committee for the British Association. This committee was tasked with looking into Charles Babbage’s analytical machine, which was an early type of computer.
- For the London Mathematical Society, he held several important positions:
- Vice-President from 1876 to 1878
- President from 1878 to 1880
- Treasurer from 1880 to 1882
Charles Merrifield was a dedicated mathematician and educator who made many contributions to science and learning during his lifetime.
