Lewis Evans (mathematician) facts for kids

Lewis Evans (1755 – 19 November 1827) was a Welsh mathematician. He was also a church minister and an astronomer. He is known for his work in mathematics and for observing the stars.

Life and Work

Lewis Evans was born in Wales in 1755. His father was a church minister. Lewis went to Merton College, Oxford, to study, but he left before finishing his degree.

In 1777, he became a minister in the church. He worked in different towns, including Ashbury and Compton. Later, he became the vicar of Froxfield, Wiltshire, and stayed there until he died.

In 1799, Lewis Evans started teaching math at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was the very first math teacher there and worked in this important role until 1820.

Besides math, Evans was very interested in astronomy, which is the study of stars and planets. He had his own private observatory on Woolwich Common. An observatory is a special building with telescopes for looking at space. He used advanced tools, like a "transit circle," to observe the sky. He was a skilled observer for many years. His observatory was even listed as one of England's most important private observatories in 1815.

Lewis Evans was recognized for his scientific work. He became a member of the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1823. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. He was also a member of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Lewis Evans passed away in Froxfield on November 19, 1827. He had two sons, Thomas Simpson Evans and Arthur Benoni Evans, who also became notable. His grandchildren included the poets Anne Evans and Sebastian Evans.

Contributions to Science

Lewis Evans wrote several articles for a science magazine called the Philosophical Magazine. These articles showed his knowledge in math and astronomy.

Some of his important writings included:

• An improved way to explain Newton's binomial theorem, which is a key rule in math.
• Observations of a star called Alpha Polaris to figure out its position in the sky in 1813.
• Tables that showed the sun's height and distance from directly overhead for every day of the year.
• Notes on a solar eclipse he observed on September 7, 1820.