| Authorised form of name | Collins; John (1625 - 1683); mathematician and scientific administrator |
| Dates | 1625 - 1683 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Wood Eaton, Oxfordshire, England, Europe |
| Date of birth | 5 March 1625 |
| Place of death | Garlick Hill, London, England, Europe |
| Date of death | 10 November 1683 |
| Dates and places | Burial:
Parish church of St James, London, England, Europe (13 November 1683) |
| Occupation | Civil servant; Sailor |
| Research field | Algebra |
| Arithmetic |
| Activity | Career:
Apprenticed to Thomas Allam, bookseller, of Oxford; Clerk employed by John Marr, clerk to the Kitchen of the Prince of Wales; served on an English merchant ship used by the Venetians as a warship in the defence of Crete from the Turks (1642-1649); teacher of mathematics in London (1649-1660); accountant to the Excise Office; accountant in Chancery; Secretary to the Council of Plantations; manager of the Farthing Office (1672); accountant to the Royal Fishery Company
|
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 17/10/1667 |
| Age at election | 42 |
| Proposer | Seth Ward |
| Other Royal Society activity | Acted as a correspondent on mathematical topics, e.g. to Isaac Barrow (FRS 1663), Isaac Newton (FRS 1672) and John Wallis (FRS 1663); Communicated and published some papers with the 'Philosophical Transactions' (1670s) |
| Relationships | Married: Bellona Austen |
| Published works | RCN: 33828
RCN: 33831
RCN: 33832
RCN: 33829
RCN: 33830 |
| General context | Collins worked to publish multiple mathematical works by his peers, e.g. some of Isaac Barrow's works or John Wallis' 'Mechanica' and 'Algebra'. Some of his own works deemed most important were 'An Introduction to Merchants' Accompts' (1652) or 'Geometrical Dialling' (1659). His papers and correspondence constitute a valuable insight into natural philosophy at the time of the Restoration as well as evidence in the well-known dispute between Newton and Gottfried Leibniz (FRS 1673), which started after Collins' death. |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Hunter; ODNB
References:
Cook, Sir A. 1996. 'The 350th Anniversary of the Birth of G W Leibniz, FRS', in Notes and Records, vol. 50, pp. 153-163
Hall, A R. 1995. 'John Collins on Newton's Telescope', in Notes and Records, vol. 49, pp. 71-78
Lewis, R. 2002. 'The publication of John Wilkins's Essay (1668): some contextual considerations', in Notes and Records, vol. 56, pp. 133-146
Malcolm, N. 2004. 'An unpublished letter from Henry Oldenburg to Johann Heinrich Rahn', in Notes and Records, vol. 58, pp.249-266
Munby, A N L. 1953. 'The Distribution of the First Edition of Newton's Principia', in Notes and Records, vol. 10, pp.28-39
Quarrie, P. 2006. 'The Scientific library of the earls of Macclesfield', in Notes and Records, vol. 60, pp. 5-25
Whitrow, G J. 1989. 'Newton's Role in the History of Mathematics', in Notes and Records, vol. 43, pp. 71-92 |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/57417862 |
| Royal Society code | NA2898 |
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| EL/L5/99 | Copy of a letter from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, dated at Hanover, to Collins | 21 June 1677 |
| EL/G1/22 | Extract of a letter from James Gregory to Mr Collins | 23 September 1672 |
| RBO/3/71 | 'A Demonstration Of the Rule for finding the Year of the Julian Period' brought in by John Collins | 19 December 1667 |
| EL/G1/23 | Copy of James Gregory's letter to Mr Collins | 7 March 1673 |
| CLP/24/7 | Paper, 'Concerning arithmetical progression' by John Collins | 17th century |
| EL/N1/46 | Isaac Newton, dated at Cambridge, to John Collins | 9 April 1672 |
| MM/6/86 | Letter from John Collins to John Wallis | 14 February 1676 |
| EL/C2/36 | John Collins, dated at Stratton, to Michael Langdon | 21 January 1703 |
| CLP/24/13 | Paper, 'Discourse to prove that the roots of all equations might be calculated by the aid of tables' by John Collins | c.17th century |
| RBO/4/26 | Solution by John Collins of a chorographical problem proposed by Richard Towneley | 1670 |
| CLP/16/8 | Paper, 'A demonstration of the rule, for finding the year of the Julian period' by John Collins | 12 December 1667 |
| CLP/24/21/1 | Letter, Discourse with mathematical rules from Mr [Isaac] Barrow to John Collins | 28 March 1668 |
| CLP/24/39 | Summary, An account of Stefano degli Angeli's book 'De Infinitis Spiralibus' and of Michaelis Angeli Ricci's book 'Exercitatio Geometrixa: De Maximis et Minimis' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/23 | Paper, 'Guaging [gauging] Promoted', an appendix to 'Stereometricall Propositions' by John Collins | 1669 |
| CLP/24/30 | Paper, An account of Renatus Franciscus Slusius' book 'Duae Mediae Proportionales inter extremas datas per circulum et per infinitas hyperbolas vel ellipses' by John Collins | 1668 |
| LBO/7/51 | Copy extract of a letter from John Wallis, Oxford, to John Collins | 24 August 1674 |
| LBO/6/27 | Copy letter from Isaac Newton, Cambridge, to John Collins | 9 April 1673 |
| LBO/7/129 | Copy letter from George Follet, Dublin, to John Collins | 29 August 1675 |
| CLP/24/9 | Paper, 'Andreae Tacquet et Societate Jesu Opera mathematica (Posthuma) [Andre Tacquet and the Society of Jesus mathematical works (posthumus)]' by John Collins | 17th century |
| LBO/18/44 | Copy etter from Hugh Stackhouse to John Collins | 20 August 1724 |
| CLP/24/6 | Paper, Description of the double horizontal dial presented to the Royal Society by John Collins | [7 November 1667] |
| CLP/24/8 | Paper, 'Concerning the controversy between Monsieur Huygens and James Gregory' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/28 | Paper, 'A solution to a geometric problem' by John Collins | 17th century |
| EL/N1/43 | Extract of a letter from Isaac Newton to John Collins (2) | 1672 |
| NLB/61/67 | Copy letter from Frederick Alexander Towle, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society; to S. B. Gaythorpe Esquire; Prospect Road, Barrow-in-Furness | 5 May 1921 |
| CLP/24/33 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg [Secretary of the Royal Society] | 17th century |
| CLP/24/38 | Paper, A solution to a geometric problem by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/21 | Letter, Discourse with mathematical rules from Mr [Isaac] Barrow to John Collins | 28 March 1668 |
| CLP/24/18 | Paper, Concerning arithmetical progression resolved by John Collins | c.17th century |
| CLP/24/29/1 | Paper, 'Solutions to certain geometrical problems' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/35 | Paper, 'An account of Michael Davy's "Guaging Epitomized"' by John Collins | 1674 |
| CLP/24/17/1 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | c.15 March 1670 |
| CLP/24/21/3 | Diagram, by Isaac Barrow | 28 March 1668 |
| CLP/6/21 | Paper, 'A narrative of the making of salt in Cheshire [England]' by [Mr Collins] | c1667 |
| CLP/24/25 | Paper, Isaac Barrow's paper concerning 'Gregory's Problem' as considered by John Collins | c.17th century |
| CLP/24/11/3 | Diagram, The Parisian problem by John Collins | December 1667/January 1668 |
| CLP/24/38/2 | Diagram, A solution to a geometric problem by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/21/2 | Diagram, by Isaac Barrow | 28 March 1668 |
| CLP/24/36/1 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | c.12 September 1669 |
| CLP/24/15 | Letter, from John Collins to Renatus Slusius | c.17th century |
| CLP/24/38/1 | Paper, A solution to a geometric problem by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/22 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg, Secretary of the Royal Society | 1666 |
| CLP/6/25 | List, 'Writers of the weights of mettals and liquors' by Mr [John] Collins | 7 July 1670 |
| CLP/24/1 | Letter, 'Introduction to algebra translated out of the High Dutch into English by Thomas Brancker...' from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | 14 May 1668 |
| CLP/24/31/4 | Diagram, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/24/1 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | 1660 |
| CLP/24/17/5 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.15 March 1670 |
| CLP/24/37/1 | Paper, Isaac Barrow's solution to [Renatus Franciscus] Slusius' 'Construction of Solid Problems' [relayed by John Collins] | 17th century |
| CLP/24/31 | Paper, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/22i/3/2 | Diagram, Method of finding the length of an arc of a circle | 1669 |
| CLP/24/20 | Memorandum, On the books to be mentioned to Renatus Slusius by John Collins | c.20 February 1672 |
| CLP/24 | Classified papers: volume 24, papers of John Collins, Henry Oldenburg, Robert Hooke, mathematics | 17th century |
| CLP/24/36 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | c.12 September 1669 |
| CLP/24/17 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | c.15 March 1670 |
| CLP/24/32 | List, 'An Inquisition after some Bookes for the Presse' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/31/5 | Diagram, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/31/2 | Diagram, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| EL/W2/24 | John Wallis, dated at Oxford, to Mr Coller | 24 August 1674 |
| CLP/24/34 | Extracts, From Vincent Leotaud's book 'The centre of gravitie of an arch' copied out by John Collins | 1663 |
| CLP/24/24/2 | Diagram, by John Collins | 1660 |
| CLP/24/37/3 | Diagram, Isaac Barrow's solution to [Renatus Franciscus] Slusius' 'Construction of Solid Problems' [relayed by John Collins] | 17th century |
| CLP/24/10 | Paper, concerning the work of Isaac Barrow by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/29/2 | Diagram, 'Solutions to certain geometrical problems' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/29 | Paper, 'Solutions to certain geometrical problems' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/20/1 | Memorandum, On the books to be mentioned to Renatus Slusius by John Collins | c.20 February 1672 |
| CLP/24/31/6 | Diagram, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/25/114 | Paper, 'Of the fishery and of an excise upon salt' by John Collins | [1682] |
| CLP/24/26/1 | Paper, 'The Answer of John Collins to a Paper of Mr. Hobbs - endeavouring to invalidate the doctrine of Dr. Wallis in his Arithmetica Infinitorum' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/40 | Letter, from John Collins to Thomas Strode | 16 July 1672 |
| CLP/24/24 | Letter, from John Collins to Henry Oldenburg | 1660 |
| CLP/24/36/2 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.12 September 1669 |
| CLP/24/26/2 | Diagram, 'The Answer of John Collins to a Paper of Mr. Hobbs - endeavouring to invalidate the doctrine of Dr. Wallis in his Arithmetica Infinitorum' by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/37/2 | Diagram, Isaac Barrow's solution to [Renatus Franciscus] Slusius' 'Construction of Solid Problems' [relayed by John Collins] | 17th century |
| CLP/24/17/3 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.15 March 1670 |
| CLP/24/37 | Paper, Isaac Barrow's solution to [Renatus Franciscus] Slusius' 'Construction of Solid Problems' [relayed by John Collins] | 17th century |
| EL/L5/100 | Copy of a letter from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, dated at Hanover, to Collins | 12 July 1677 |
| EL/N1/45 | Extract of a letter from Isaac Newton to John Collins | 1672 |
| EL/F1/81 | Copy of a letter from John Flamsteed, dated at Derby, to John Collins | 1 January 1672 |
| CLP/24/26 | Paper, 'The Answer of John Collins to a Paper of Mr. Hobbs - endeavouring to invalidate the doctrine of Dr. Wallis in his Arithmetica Infinitorum' by John Collins | 17th century |
| EL/F1/108 | Extract of letter from John Flamsteed to John Collins | 14 December 1674 |
| EL/F1/99 | John Flamsteed, dated at Derby, to John Collins | 12 July 1673 |
| EL/F1/84 | Extract of a letter from John Flamsteed to John Collins | 18 March 1671 |
| EL/F1/83 | John Flamsteed, dated at Derby, to John Collins | 18 March 1671 |
| EL/N1/44 | Extract of a letter from Isaac Newton to John Collins (1) | 1672 |
| EL/T/25 | Richard Towneley, dated at Towneley, to John Collins | 29 January 1672 |
| EL/T/45 | George Tollet, dated at London, to John Collins | 19 August 1675 |
| EL/N1/42 | Continuation of an extract of a letter from Isaac Newton to John Collins (3) | nd |
| CLP/24/31/1 | Paper, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| EL/F1/107 | Extract of letter from John Flamsteed to John Collins | 25 November 1674 |
| CLP/24/20/2 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.20 February 1672 |
| CLP/24/31/3 | Diagram, Solutions to certain geometrical problems by John Collins | 17th century |
| CLP/24/11/4 | Diagram, The Parisian problem by John Collins | December 1667/January 1668 |
| CLP/24/17/4 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.15 March 1670 |
| CLP/24/17/6 | Diagram, by John Collins | c.15 March 1670 |
| LBO/5/44 | Copy extract of a letter from Richard Townley to John Collins | 29 January 1671/1672 |