Notule bibliographique
Hutton, Charles, A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary, 4 vol., Thoemmes, octobre 2000.
A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary. Containing
an Explanation of the Terms, and an Account of the Several Subjects, comprized
under the heads Mathematics, Astronomy, and Philosophy … also Memoirs of
the Lives and Writings of the most Eminent Authors, both Ancient and Modern,
etc. 4 volumes. 1505 pp.
With a new introduction by Richard Gregory, University of Bristol
Notule de l'éditeur.
"A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary is a unique sourcebook
for historians of mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. It is Charles
Hutton’s most well-known work and widely considered to be the successor
to John Harris’s great Lexicon Technicum, or an Universal English Dictionary
of the Arts and Sciences (1704). Originally published in two volumes
in 1795–6, this expansive scientific encyclopedia contains thousands of
explanations of terms and a wealth of biographical information on the major
British and European scientists and philosophers. Among the biographical
entries, which include detailed bibliographical descriptions, are Berkeley,
Huygens, Boyle, Bacon, Gassendi, Flamsteed, Hooke, Brahe, Newton, Galileo
and Halley. The many scientific terms are concisely explained and illuminated
by examples and illustrations.
"Charles Hutton (1732–1823) was an eminent mathematician and distinguished
figure in the Royal Society (he was elected a fellow in 1774 and held the
position of Foreign Secretary from 1779 to 1783). Throughout his life he
contributed extensively to scientific periodicals and submitted many important
papers to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Hutton’s
experiments and research included the significant computation of the mean
density of the earth based on Nevil Maskelyne’s observations. His other
works included a paper on ballistics, The Force of Fired Gunpowder and
the Velocity of Cannon Balls, for which he received the Copley Medal
of the Royal Society in 1778. He held the position of Professor of Mathematics
at Woolwich Military Academy for thirty-four years and wrote numerous mathematics
textbooks. In 1781 Hutton published Mathematical Tables for the
Board of Longitude and he later produced the important Course of Mathematics
(1798–1801), which was subsequently published in various editons over a
period of fifty years.
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j.jacques.delfour@ac-toulouse.fr |