David Gregory (mathematician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Gregory
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| Born | 3 June 1659 Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Died | 10 October 1708 (aged 49) Maidenhead, Berkshire, England
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | Marischal College, University of Aberdeen University of Leiden |
| Known for | Development of infinite series |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Edinburgh Balliol College, Oxford |
| Notable students | John Keill John Craig |
| Influences | James Gregory Archibald Pitcairne Isaac Newton |
| Influenced | Colin Maclaurin William Whiston |
| Notes | |
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He is the nephew of James Gregory.
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David Gregory (born Gregorie) (June 3, 1659 – October 10, 1708) was a smart Scottish mathematician and astronomer. He taught math at the University of Edinburgh. Later, he became the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford. He was a big supporter of Isaac Newton's famous book, Principia, which explained how the universe works.
About David Gregory
David Gregory was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1659. He was one of fifteen children! His father, David Gregorie, was a doctor.
David's uncle, James Gregory, was also a famous astronomer and mathematician. Like his uncle, David went to Aberdeen Grammar School and Marischal College (part of the University of Aberdeen).
His family, the Gregorys, had to leave Scotland for a while because of religious reasons. Young David traveled around Europe, visiting places like the Netherlands, where he started studying medicine at Leiden University, and France. He came back to Scotland in 1683.
In 1683, David became a professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh. He was very brave because he was the first person there to openly teach the ideas from Isaac Newton's Principia. This was a new and exciting way of thinking about how the universe works!
Later, in 1691, David moved to England. Isaac Newton himself helped him become the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford. In the same year, he became a member of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists. In 1692, he also became a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
David Gregory spent several days with Isaac Newton in 1694. They talked about how to make a second version of Newton's Principia even better.
In 1695, David published a book called Catoptricae et dioptricae sphaericae elementa. In this book, he wrote about how light bends and how to fix problems with lenses, like chromatic aberration (when colors don't focus correctly). He even thought about how to make lenses that show true colors.
David Gregory and his wife, Elizabeth Oliphant, had nine children. He passed away in Maidenhead, England, in 1708.
David Gregory's Books
David Gregory wrote and edited several important books during his life:
- 1684: Exercitatio geometrica de dimensione figurarum (A book about measuring shapes).
- 1695: Catoptricæ et dioptricæ sphæricæ elementa (This book was about mirrors and lenses, and how they work with light).
- 1703: He edited Euclides quae supersunt omnia (This was a collection of all the works of the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid).
- 1745: Treatise of Practical Geometry (This book was published after he died, edited by Colin Maclaurin. It was about how to use geometry in real life).
Images for kids
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Astronomiae physicae et geometricae elementa, 1726
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A hand-written note from David Gregory's papers.
See also
In Spanish: David Gregory para niños
