Sir William Rowan Hamilton

by Thomas L. Hankins

Overview

One of the most imaginative mathematicians of the nineteenth century, Sir William Rowan Hamilton (1805–1865) changed the course of modern algebra with his discovery of quaternions in 1843. Although Hamilton's work was largely theoretical, his ideas came to have invaluable practical applications with the advent of quantum mechanics in the twentieth century. In this acclaimed biography, Thomas L. Hankins brings together the many aspects of Hamilton's life and work—from his significant contributions to mathematics, optics, and mechanics to his passion for metaphysics, poetry, and politics—fully portraying the brilliant man whose faith and idealism guided him in everything he did.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801869730
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	06/30/2004
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.11(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Thomas L. Hankins is a professor emeritus of the history of science at the University of Washington.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. Birth and Education
1. Early Years
2. Trinity College and Dunsink Observatory
3. Life at the Observatory
II. Ray Optics
4. The "Theory of Systems of Rays"
5. Creating the "Theory of Systems of Rays"
6. Conical Refraction
III. Marriage
7. Philosophical Romance
8. Helen Bayly
IV. Light and Dynamics
9. Theories of Light
10. Optics at the British Association
11. The Luminiferous Aether
12. The Metaphysical Foundations of Mechanics
13. The General Method in Dynamics
14. The Fate of the Optical-Mechanical Analogy
V. Politics and Religion
15. Reform and Religious Turmoil
16. In and Out of the Oxford Movement
VI. "Algebra as the Science of Pure Time"
17. The Foundations of Algebra and the Coleridgean View of Science
18. "Algebra as the Science of Pure time"
19. The Kantian Content of the "Essay on Algebra as the Science of Pure Time"
20. The Equation of the Fifth Degree
VII. Quarternions
21. From Algebraic Couples to Quaternions
22. The Creation of Quarternions
23. The Fate of Quarternions
24. The Hodograph and the Icosian Calculus
VIII. Last Years
25. Catherine Disney Barlow
26. The End of a Career
27. Hamilton and Nineteenth-Century Science
Appendix: The Equations of Conjugation and Logarithms of Number Couples
Abbreviations Used in the Notes
Notes
Bibliographical Essay
Index

Editorial Reviews

By a combination of exacting scholarship and distinguished writing, Hankins has produced a book which is both an important record and a marvelous read.
—I. Grattan-Guinness, Annals of Science

An interesting, well-written biography of the great nineteenth-century mathematician.
—Burnett Meyer, Mathematical Reviews

Hankins has given [Hamilton] the detailed biography that he merits. The author integrates his discussions of Hamilton's poetic, metaphysical and mathematical facets to provide a balanced picture of a complex individual against the background of the religious, philosophical, political, and social movements of the time.
—Library Journal

Thomas Hankins has given us much more than just a good biography of a leading scientific personality of the 19th century, although that it certainly is . . . Thorough in the scientific aspects of his book, the author also deals substantially with the philosophical, religious, and political events that bore so heavily on Hamilton's work and personal life.
—Brian D. Murphy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review

[A] most welcome general biography of Hamilton . . . an interesting account of a fascinating life.
—P. A. Wayman, Irish Astronomical Journal

Hankins' biography is analytic . . . comprehensive, and ambitiously aimed at integrating all the facets of Hamilton's richly productive but troubled life . . . In the difficult genre of scientific biography, where good books are rare, Hankins's Hamilton is excellent.
—Michael J. Crowe, Science

Hankins's treatment of Hamilton's works is always clear and concise. His biography displays a mastery of the technical details of Hamilton's mathematics as well as an understanding of the origins of Hamilton's ideas . . . This biography is extraordinarily well written and a pleasure to read.
—Henry John Steffens, American Historical Review

From the Publisher

Thomas Hankins has given us much more than just a good biography of a leading scientific personality of the 19th century, although that it certainly is . . . Thorough in the scientific aspects of his book, the author also deals substantially with the philosophical, religious, and political events that bore so heavily on Hamilton's work and personal life.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review - Brian D. Murphy

Hankins' biography is analytic . . . comprehensive, and ambitiously aimed at integrating all the facets of Hamilton's richly productive but troubled life . . . In the difficult genre of scientific biography, where good books are rare, Hankins's Hamilton is excellent.

Science - Michael J. Crowe

An interesting, well-written biography of the great nineteenth-century mathematician.

Mathematical Reviews - Burnett Meyer

[A] most welcome general biography of Hamilton . . . an interesting account of a fascinating life.

Irish Astronomical Journal - P. A. Wayman

Hankins's treatment of Hamilton's works is always clear and concise. His biography displays a mastery of the technical details of Hamilton's mathematics as well as an understanding of the origins of Hamilton's ideas . . . This biography is extraordinarily well written and a pleasure to read.

American Historical Review - Henry John Steffens

By a combination of exacting scholarship and distinguished writing, Hankins has produced a book which is both an important record and a marvelous read.

Annals of Science - I. Grattan-Guinness

Hankins's treatment of Hamilton's works is always clear and concise. His biography displays a mastery of the technical details of Hamilton's mathematics as well as an understanding of the origins of Hamilton's ideas... This biography is extraordinarily well written and a pleasure to read.

— Henry John Steffens

American Historical Review

Hankins' biography is analytic... comprehensive, and ambitiously aimed at integrating all the facets of Hamilton's richly productive but troubled life... In the difficult genre of scientific biography, where good books are rare, Hankins's Hamilton is excellent.

— Michael J. Crowe

Science

[A] most welcome general biography of Hamilton... an interesting account of a fascinating life.

— P. A. Wayman

Irish Astronomical Journal

Thomas Hankins has given us much more than just a good biography of a leading scientific personality of the 19th century, although that it certainly is... Thorough in the scientific aspects of his book, the author also deals substantially with the philosophical, religious, and political events that bore so heavily on Hamilton's work and personal life.

— Brian D. Murphy

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review

An interesting, well-written biography of the great nineteenth-century mathematician.

— Burnett Meyer

Mathematical Reviews

By a combination of exacting scholarship and distinguished writing, Hankins has produced a book which is both an important record and a marvelous read.

— I. Grattan-Guinness

Annals of Science