George Tollet facts for kids

George Tollet was a smart mathematician and a manager for the navy. He lived a long time ago, from the late 1600s to the early 1700s. He was known for his work with numbers and his important jobs in the government.

Early Life and Education

George Tollet was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Thomas Tollet, was from London. George went to two famous schools: Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Later, he and his brother Cooke moved to the Isle of Man. They went there for a while because of money problems.

A Love for Learning and Science

Joining the Dublin Philosophical Society

In 1685, George Tollet helped start a group called the Dublin Philosophical Society. He was also their treasurer, which meant he managed their money. He often shared his ideas and experiments with the group. He was very interested in how math could be used in real life.

Connections with Famous Thinkers

George Tollet held many government jobs, mostly in Ireland. In 1702, he became an Extra Commissioner of the Navy. This was a special job that allowed him to live in the Tower of London until 1714. He also worked as a Second Master at Westminster School. This was from 1711 to 1714.

He met many important people. These included members of the Royal Society, a famous science group. He knew Isaac Newton, who discovered gravity. He also knew Edmond Halley, who studied comets. George Tollet also met writers like Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn. In June 1713, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a great honor.

Supporting Education

George Tollet cared a lot about education. In 1685, a friend named William Molyneux wrote about a smart girl. She was only eleven years old. William had taught her many math subjects. These included arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. George also made sure his own daughter received a good education.

Later Life and Family

In 1718, George Tollet bought a country house. It was called Betley Hall in Staffordshire. He planned to retire there. However, he died there in 1719. He had married Elizabeth Oakes on the Isle of Man. Their son, also named George, inherited Betley Hall. Their daughter, Elizabeth Tollet, became a poet.