Difference between revisions of "Isaac Barrow 1630-1677"
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====Biographical Note==== | ====Biographical Note==== | ||
| − | Born in [[place of birth::London]], son of [[family::Thomas Barrow]], [[occupation::draper]]. BA [[education::Trinity College, Cambridge]] 1649, [[occupation::fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge|fellow]] shortly thereafter, MA 1652; he began pursuing [[ | + | Born in [[place of birth::London]], son of [[family::Thomas Barrow]], [[occupation::draper]]. BA [[education::Trinity College, Cambridge]] 1649, [[occupation::fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge|fellow]] shortly thereafter, MA 1652; he began pursuing mathematical studies, and published [[editor::editions]] of [[author::Euclid]] during the 1650s. After travelling extensively abroad in the later 1650s he returned to [[location::Cambridge]] as [[occupation::Regius Professor of Greek]], becoming [[occupation::Lucasian professor of Mathematics]] in 1663. He was elected a [[occupation::fellow]] of the [[organisations::Royal Society]] in 1662 and also became [[occupation::Gresham Professor]] of geometry. He resigned the Lucasian chair in 1669 to focus on theology, and became a [[occupation::prebendary]] of [[organisations::St Asaph's Cathedral|St Asaph]]. He was elected [[occupation::Master]] of [[organisations::Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]] in 1673. Although celebrated today more as a [[occupation::mathematician]], he was primarily celebrated during and immediately after his lifetime as a theologian and preacher. |
====Books==== | ====Books==== | ||
| − | Barrow sold his books in the mid-1650s to help pay for travelling abroad. He | + | Barrow sold his books in the mid-1650s to help pay for travelling abroad. He [[bequest::gave]] ca.60 volumes to [[beneficiary::Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity]] during his lifetime, and 10 more were bought after his death. A catalogue of his library, ca.1100 volumes, is in [[organisations::Bodleian Library]] ms Rawl.D.878, fos.39-59. He died intestate and his papers were bought after his death by the publisher Brabazon Aylmer. He was a key instigator of the decision to build a new library for [[organisations::Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]], appointed [[associates::Christopher Wren]] as the [[occupation::architect]], and led the fundraising. |
====Sources==== | ====Sources==== | ||
Revision as of 04:27, 28 May 2020
Isaac BARROW 1630-77
Biographical Note
Born in London, son of Thomas Barrow, draper. BA Trinity College, Cambridge 1649, fellow shortly thereafter, MA 1652; he began pursuing mathematical studies, and published editions of Euclid during the 1650s. After travelling extensively abroad in the later 1650s he returned to Cambridge as Regius Professor of Greek, becoming Lucasian professor of Mathematics in 1663. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1662 and also became Gresham Professor of geometry. He resigned the Lucasian chair in 1669 to focus on theology, and became a prebendary of St Asaph. He was elected Master of Trinity College in 1673. Although celebrated today more as a mathematician, he was primarily celebrated during and immediately after his lifetime as a theologian and preacher.
Books
Barrow sold his books in the mid-1650s to help pay for travelling abroad. He gave ca.60 volumes to Trinity during his lifetime, and 10 more were bought after his death. A catalogue of his library, ca.1100 volumes, is in Bodleian Library ms Rawl.D.878, fos.39-59. He died intestate and his papers were bought after his death by the publisher Brabazon Aylmer. He was a key instigator of the decision to build a new library for Trinity College, appointed Christopher Wren as the architect, and led the fundraising.
Sources
- Feingold, Mordechai. "Barrow, Isaac (1630–1677), mathematician and theologian." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Gaskell, P., Trinity College Library: the first 150 years. Cambridge, 1980. 131.
- McKitterick, David (ed), The making of the Wren Library, Cambridge, 1995.