James Devereux Hustler facts for kids

James Devereux (born 1784, died 1849) was an English church leader and a smart university teacher. He was also a mathematician, which means he was very good at numbers and math. In 1819, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special group for important scientists.

James Devereux's Early Life and Education

James Devereux went to school at King Edward VI Free School, Bury St Edmunds. His teacher there was Rev. Michael Becher. A good friend of his was Charles James Blomfield, who later became a very important church leader, the Bishop of London.

In 1801, James started university at Christ's College, Cambridge. He moved to Trinity College in 1802. He was a very talented math student. In 1806, he earned the title of third Wrangler. This meant he was the third-best math student in his year at Cambridge. He earned his first degree, a B.A., that same year. In 1807, he became a Fellow of Trinity, which is like being a senior member of the college.

Another student, Henry Gage, 4th Viscount Gage, also studied at Trinity College. He joined in 1811 and earned his M.A. degree in 1812. He also wrote some math books.

Teaching at Trinity College

James Devereux worked as an assistant teacher at Trinity College from 1811 to 1813. Then, he became a full tutor from 1813 to 1823. During his time as a tutor, there was a big change in how math was taught at Cambridge. This period, from 1815 to 1825, is called the "analytical revolution."

During this time, new ways of teaching infinitesimal calculus were brought in. Teachers started using the ideas and symbols developed by Gottfried Leibniz. Before this, they mostly taught the methods of Isaac Newton. This change helped students learn math in new and different ways.

One student, named Airy, learned a lot from his school teacher in Colchester, Thomas Rogers. This teacher taught him university-level math topics. Later, another tutor named Peacock gave Airy special lessons in the newer calculus methods. Airy then worked on problems using the ideas of other mathematicians like Samuel Vince and Robert Woodhouse.

Some older students found these new methods difficult. So, the students who were learning the new calculus were taught in a separate group by Peacock.

Later Life and Church Work

James Devereux began his career in the church in 1823. He worked as a curate, which is a type of assistant priest, at Fornham All Saints. In 1828, the Duke of Grafton gave him a position as the rector of Great Fakenham. A rector is the main priest of a church. In 1829, he was also given the church position in Euston, Suffolk.

Published Works

James Devereux also wrote several books and sermons:

• The Elements of Conic Sections: with the sections of conoids (1st edition 1818, 2nd edition 1820, 3rd edition 1826). This was a math textbook about shapes like circles and ellipses.
• A Sermon preached [...] the first Sunday after the funeral of [...] George Henry Duke of Grafton (1844). This was a speech he gave in church after the Duke of Grafton passed away.
• Unity in the Church: A Sermon Preached at Ixworth on Monday, May 21st, 1849 (1849). This was another church speech about being united in faith.

Family Life

In 1823, James Devereux married Elizabeth Mansel. She was the daughter of William Lort Mansel. They had several children:

• Elizabeth Juliana married James Robertson Bryant in 1855.
• Augusta Frederica, their youngest daughter, married Rev. Owen Jones in 1856. Their daughter, Elizabeth Frederica Isabella Owen, later married Rev. William Howard Coates in 1888.

A famous painter named Samuel Lane painted pictures of James and Elizabeth's children in 1833.