William Ludlam facts for kids
William Ludlam (1717–1788) was an English church leader and a smart mathematician. He was known for his skills in both areas.
Life Story
William Ludlam was born in Leicester. His father, Richard Ludlam, was a doctor. William was the older brother of Thomas Ludlam, who also became a clergyman.
William went to Leicester grammar school. Then, he studied at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he became a special student in 1744. He earned his degrees in 1738, 1742, and 1749. In 1749, he became the vicar (a type of priest) of Norton-by-Galby in Leicestershire. He also held important roles at his college, like junior dean and lecturer.
In 1760, William tried to become the professor of mathematics at Cambridge, but he didn't get the job. Later, in 1765, he was one of three experts chosen to check John Harrison's famous clock. This clock was very important for finding longitude at sea. William was known for being good at practical mechanics (how things work) and astronomy (studying stars and planets). He also gave great math lectures.
In 1768, William moved back to Leicester after taking a new church job in Cockfield. He lived there for the rest of his life. He first lived with his brother, but then he got married in 1772. He became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1773.
William Ludlam passed away on March 16, 1788. There was a special plaque for him in St. Mary's church, but it's not there anymore. However, there is a memorial for his son, Thomas Ludlam, placed by William's wife.
His Writings
William Ludlam wrote many books and papers. His book, Rudiments of Mathematics (1785), became a very popular textbook at Cambridge University. It was used for many years.
He also wrote about Isaac Newton's laws of motion. In his Essay on Newton's Second Law of Motion (1780), he talked about how different forces act independently.
Some of his other important writings include:
- Astronomical Observations made in St. John's College (1769) – about his observations of space.
- Two Mathematical Essays (1770) – about math ideas like ratios.
- Directions for the Use of Hadley's Quadrant (1771) – a guide for using a tool for navigation.
- The Theory of Hadley's Quadrant (1771) – explaining how the navigation tool works.
- An Introduction to and Notes on Mr. Bird's Method of Dividing Astronomical Instruments (1786) – about making astronomy tools.
- Mathematical Essays (1787) – more math topics, including parts of Newton's famous book, Principia.
William also wrote a short article about church organs for the Gentleman's Magazine in 1772. He had other papers published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
He also wrote some essays about religious topics.
His Family
William Ludlam married Frances Dowley on March 13, 1773, in Leicester.
William and Frances had many children, but only two sons lived longer than him. The older son was Thomas Ludlam (1775–1810). Thomas worked for the Sierra Leone Company in Africa. He became a member of the council and even served as governor of the colony twice. He was acting governor until 1808, when the British government took over. Thomas later explored the coast of Africa. He passed away in Sierra Leone in 1810.
