Record

Authorised form of nameRaphson; Joseph (? 1648 - ? 1716); mathematician and writer
Dates? 1648 - ? 1716
NationalityBritish
Place of birthMiddlesex, England, Europe
Date of birth? 1648
Date of death? 1716
OccupationAuthor
ActivityEducation:
Jesus College, Cambridge (MA Lit Reg 1692)
Career:
Abridged Ozanam's Dictionary of mathematics (1702); translated some of Isaac Newton's (FRS 1672) works into English
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election30/11/1689
ProposerEdmond Halley
PublishedWorksRCN: 49226
RCN: 49227
RCN: 49228
RCN: 49225
RCN: R69339
OtherInfoUnfortunately, very little is known about Raphson's early life and family. His main work is considered to be his 'Analysis aequationum universalis' (1690) and it was reportedly due to this that he was elected into the Society. In this work, Raphson described the Newton (or Newton-Raphson) method for approximating the roots of an equation. Raphson remained involved in Newton's (FRS 1672) mathematical work and translated his 'Arithmetica universalis' from Latin to English. His work 'Demonstratio de deo' shows an interest in cosmology and natural philosophy which is based on Cabalist beliefs.
SourceSources:
Bulloch's Roll; Hunter; Taylor; DNB; ODNB
References:
Thomas, D J. 1990. 'Joseph Raphson, FRS', in Notes and Records, vol. 44, pp. 151-167
Notes:
Last in 1712 list according to Hunter. Possible death date of 1715. Venn has an approximate lifespan 1674-1772. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive has 1668-1712 as a lifespan and a place of birth as Pinner, Middlesex.
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/76326037
CodeNA6750
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
MS/390/95Bond of Joseph Raphson to the Treasurer of the Royal Society4 December 1689
NLB/2/124Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Reverend Robert Harley, Fellow of the Royal Society, 4 Wellington Square, Oxford25 January 1888
Add to My Items

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView