James Gregory

1638-1675

James Gregory was a renowned Scottish astronomer and mathematician.

It is hard for an academic to strike out and be known amongst the general populous. This is only compounded with time. Although, there has been a small number of Famous Scots who are to this day recognized for their achievements in their studies, like Adam Smith and James Hutton. Amongst those who are less known is, James Gregory.

James Gregory was born in the November of 1638, in Drumoak in Scotland. Firstly educated by his mother, James Gregory soon went to Aberdeen to join grammar school and subsequently Marischal College. After graduating in 1657, James Gregory traveled to London, where he began work on the studies for which he gained fame.

Amongst other work James Gregory strived to advance the field of mathematics and astronomy. Namely, his biggest achievement was designing the reflection telescope, which to this day is called the Gregorian telescope. Although it is no longer in use, the Gregorian telescope was in common and widespread use for up to one and a half centuries after its design. It was also the first reflecting telescope of practical design. He also authored and published his works on reflection and optics in his book, Optica Promota, in 1663.

In a more specialized field, James Gregory contributed to the field of mathematics. Of his smaller contributions, was his spread of ideas of Isaac Newton. Although not directly teaching the ideas of Newton, James Gregory incorporated them into his own teachings. At the time, these ideas were considered radical and controversial. James Gregory helped bring them into mainstream mathematic acceptance.

Secondly, James Gregory did work on finding the areas of circles and parabolas, in his other major work, Verra Circuliet Hyperbolae Qadratura. For those with an interest in the field, James Gregory propositioned the use of infinite convergent series for the areas of such shapes. James Gregory also created the first proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and some groundbreaking work on the Taylor Series. He also made a number of smaller discoveries in the field of mathematics, although many of these appeal only to those with an intense interest of early mathematics.

See also: Famous Scots.