William Oughtred
Life
Born 1574, died 1660.
Also both a mathematician and an ordained minister.
William Oughtred attended Eton School, and from there he went to King's College Cambridge, entering in 1592. Three years later he became a Fellow of King's College, received his B.A. in 1596 and his M.A. four years later.
Oughtred was ordained an Episcopal minister in 1603. In 1604 he became vicar of Shalford and later, in 1610, he became rector of Albury.
Oughtred was a private tutor to many, and allowed them to live in his house for free during their mathematical education. The most well known pupils of his are John Wallis, Christopher Wren and Richard Delamain. Also tutored the Earl of Arundel's son in the mid 1620's. He was described as being avidly interested in mathematics, and was known to lose several nights slepp while working on various projects. He was also an active alchemist. Accomplishments
1628 - Invention of an early form of the slide rule
1630 - Invented circular slide rule
1631 - first used x as symbol for multiplication, and :: for proportion. He experimented with many different notations for many things, but these caught on the best. | |
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