John Caswell facts for kids

John Caswell (sometimes called John Carswell) was a smart English mathematician who lived from 1654 or 1655 until 1712. He became a special professor of astronomy at the famous University of Oxford. This important job was called the Savilian Professor of Astronomy. He held this position from 1709 until he passed away.

Caswell's Early Life and Studies

John Caswell came from a town called Crewkerne in Somerset, England. When he was about 16 years old, in March 1671, he started studying at Wadham College, Oxford. This is like enrolling in a university.

He worked very hard and earned his first university degree, a Bachelor of Arts, in 1674. A few years later, in 1677, he earned an even higher degree, a Master of Arts.

Learning from a Master

John Caswell had a very important teacher named John Wallis. Wallis was also a famous mathematician and held the title of Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford. Caswell learned a lot from him.

Working on Maps

Caswell also helped with an important project to map England and Wales. He worked with a mapmaker named John Adams. This mapping project started in the late 1600s.

Becoming a Professor

In 1709, John Caswell became the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. This was a big achievement! At the same time, he also worked as a leader at another part of the university called Hart Hall, Oxford.

He knew other mathematicians too, like Robert Simson from Scotland. Caswell even wrote a letter to support Simson when he was trying to get a job as a professor at the University of Glasgow.

His Book on Math

In 1685, Caswell wrote a book about trigonometry. This is a branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and angles of triangles.

Later Life and Legacy

John Caswell passed away on April 28, 1712. He was buried in Holywell Cemetery in Oxford. His tombstone, which is now lost, had a message about him. It said he was a kind and humble mathematician who was greatly missed. He was 56 years old when he died.