John William Stubbs facts for kids
John William Stubbs (born February 1, 1821 – died October 10, 1897) was an Irish mathematician and a leader in the church. He worked at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where he was a bursar. This means he managed the college's money. He is also known for helping to introduce an important idea in geometry called inversion in a circle. Later in his life, he wrote a book about the history of the University of Dublin.
Early Life and Education
John William Stubbs was born in Finglas, which is a part of Dublin, Ireland. He was a very bright student. In 1840, he graduated from Trinity College Dublin. He was the top mathematics student in his class and even won a special gold medal for his achievements.
Contributions to Mathematics
After college, Stubbs spent several years working on mathematics. He published some important papers. He is especially known for his work with another mathematician, John Kells Ingram. Together, they helped introduce a new idea in geometry called "inversion in a circle." This is a way to transform shapes using circles.
Their idea was quite important. It was even mentioned in a famous book by John Casey. This book was called A Sequel to the First Six Books of Euclid. Their work was also shared in the official papers of the Royal Irish Academy in 1845.
Life in the Church and Later Career
In 1845, John Stubbs earned his Master of Arts degree. He also became a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. Around this time, he decided to become a clergyman, which is a leader in the church. From then on, he focused more on church matters.
He continued his studies and received his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1866. Later, in 1882, he became a Senior Fellow and the Bursar of Trinity College Dublin. He also helped manage the money for St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.
John Stubbs married Catherine Louisa Cotter in 1855. They had five children together. In 1889, he published a book titled The History of the University of Dublin, from Its Foundation to the End of the Eighteenth Century. This book shared the story of the university from its beginning up to the 1700s.
