Eugenius Nulty facts for kids

Eugenius Nulty (born 1790 – died July 3, 1871) was an important mathematician from the 1800s. He was born in Ireland but became an American citizen.

Nulty taught at Dickinson College from 1814 to 1816. Later, he tutored famous people in Philadelphia. These included brothers Mathew Carey Lea and Henry Charles Lea.

A Brilliant Mind: Eugenius Nulty's Career

After moving to the United States from Ireland, Eugenius Nulty quickly became a respected thinker. People at the time called him "brilliant." He was known for his sharp mind and skills in mathematics.

Teaching and Actuarial Science

In 1814, Nulty became a math professor at Dickinson College. He taught there for two years. In 1816, he moved to Philadelphia. Two companies, The Philadelphia Life Insurance Company and the Pennsylvania Company, invited him. They hired Nulty as one of the first actuarial scientists in the U.S. Actuaries use math to study risks, especially for insurance.

Nulty also helped with a big project called the Survey of the Coast. This survey used math to map the U.S. coastline. It later became the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Recognized for His Work

Nulty's skills were widely recognized. In 1817, he was chosen to be a member of the American Philosophical Society. This is a very old and respected group of thinkers.

In 1823, the University of Pennsylvania gave Nulty an honorary A.M. degree. This means they honored him for his achievements. In 1832, he became an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also exchanged letters with another famous scientist, Robert Maskell Patterson.

Writing and Publications

Eugenius Nulty wrote for the Mathematical Diary. This was one of the first math journals published in the U.S. He also wrote a book called Elements of Geometry, theoretical and practical in 1836. This was one of the first geometry books written in the United States. Even today, you can find copies of his book.

In 1840, a director named P.J. Walker praised Nulty. He said Nulty was "unsurpassed at home or abroad" in pure mathematics. This shows how highly people thought of his math abilities.