Thomas Simpson Evans facts for kids

Thomas Simpson Evans (1777–1818) was a clever British mathematician. He was known for his work with numbers and science.

His Life Story

Thomas Simpson Evans was born in 1777. His father was Reverend Lewis Evans, also a mathematician. Thomas was named after another famous mathematician, Thomas Simpson.

Around 1797, Thomas started working at a private observatory. This was in Blackheath, London. It belonged to William Larkins. After Mr. Larkins passed away in 1800, Thomas became an assistant. He worked for Nevil Maskelyne at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. He stayed there until 1805.

In 1805, Thomas became a math teacher. He taught at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. His father also taught there. Thomas worked at Woolwich until 1810. Then, he became the master of a math school. This school was in New Charlton, near Woolwich. In 1813, he moved again. He became the master of mathematics at Christ's Hospital, London.

Thomas was very good at his studies. He earned a special degree called LL.D. We don't know which university gave it to him. He also became a fellow of the Linnean Society. This is a group for people who study nature.

Thomas Simpson Evans passed away on October 28, 1818. He was 41 years old.

His Works and Writings

Thomas Evans translated some important science books. One was Antonio Cagnoli's Trigonometria piana e sferica. This book was about trigonometry, a type of math. He also had many unfinished papers. These papers covered different science topics.

He also wrote articles for a science magazine. It was called the Philosophical Magazine. Some of his articles included:

• "Problems on the Reduction of Angles" (about solving angle problems).
• "An Abridgment of the Life of Julien Le Roy, the Watchmaker, by his Son" (a shorter story about a famous watchmaker).
• "A Short Account of Improvements gradually made in determining the Astronomic Refraction" (about how light bends in space).
• "Historical Memoranda respecting Experiments intended to ascertain the Calorific Powers of the different Prismatic Rays" (about how different colors of light create heat).
• "On the Laws of Terrestrial Magnetism in different Latitudes" (about Earth's magnetic field in different places).

Thomas Evans had a very good library. It was full of valuable math and science books.

His Family

In 1797, Thomas married Deborah Mascall. She was from Ashford, Kent. They had five children together:

• Thomas Simpson Evans (1798–1880), who became a vicar (a type of church leader).
• Aspasia Evans (1799–1876), who never married.
• Herbert Norman Evans, M.D. (1802–1877), a doctor and book collector.
• Arthur Benoni Evans (died 1838).
• Lewis Evans (1815–1869), who became a headmaster at a school.