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Authorised form of nameNeile; William (1637 - 1670); mathematician
Dates1637 - 1670
NationalityBritish
Place of birthArchbishop of York's palace at Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire, England, Europe
Date of birth7 December 1637
Place of deathHill House, White Waltham, Berkshire, England, Europe
Date of death24 August 1670
Dates and placesBurial:
White Waltham Parish church, Berkshire, England, Europe
Research fieldMathematics
Astronomy
ActivityEducation:
Wadham College, Oxford (entered 1652, matriculated 1655); Middle Temple (admitted 1657)
Career:
Gave exact rectification of the cubical parabola and was published in John Wallis' 'De Cycloide' (1659, p.91); Privy Councillor; made astronomical observations from the roof of his father's house, Hill House, White Waltham
Membership categoryOriginal Fellow
Date of election20/05/1663
ProposerSir Robert Moray
Royal Society activityWas active on the Council from April 1666 onwards.
RelationshipsParents: Sir Paul Neile (FRS 1660) and Elizabeth Clarke
Grandparents: Richard Neile, archbishop of York
General contextPrior to the establishment of the Royal Society, Neile communicated his new results on the rectification of cubical parabola to its predecessor group at Gresham College. He studied mathematics under John Wilkins (FRS 1660) and Seth Ward (FRS 1661). He was heavily involved in debates surrounding the theory of motion and put forth his own hypothesis to the Society. His work was additionally influenced by the work 'De Corpore' by Thomas Hobbe.
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SourcesSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Foster
References:
McKie, D. 1960. 'The Origins and Foundation of the Royal Society of London', in Notes and Records, vol. 15, pp. 1-37
Scott, J F. 1960. 'The Reverend John Wallis, FRS (1616-1703)', in Notes and Records, vol. 15, pp. 57-67
Stedall, J A. 2000. 'Catching Proteus: the collaborations of Wallis and Brouncker. I. Squaring the circle', in Notes and Records, vol. 54, pp. 293-316
Notes:
The election date is Neile's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously elected on 7 January 1663 and admitted into the Society on 14 January 1663..
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/1861159248599404870008
Royal Society codeNA7011
Archives associated with this Fellow
Reference numberTitleDate
RBO/4/18'Mr William Neile His Hypothesis of Motion'1669
DM/5/78D'Experiments proposed to William Neile'
CLP/3i/50Paper, discussion on motion by [William Neile][17th century]
CLP/3i/48Paper, 'Principles of philosophy' by Mr [William?] Neile[17th century]
EL/N1/19Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg[1669]
EL/N1/24Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg1 June 1669
CLP/10iii/14Paper, 'Of vinous liquors, a disquisition' by Wm [William] Neile[1660s]
EL/N1/21Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg, dated at London13 May 1669
EL/N1/16Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg21 January [1669]
EL/N1/23Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg15 June 1669
EL/N1/12Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg18 December [1668]
EL/N1/14Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg2 January [1669]
EL/N1/15Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg12 January 1668
EL/N1/8Letter, from William Neile [to the Royal Society]23 June
EL/N1/22Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg20 May 1669
CLP/3i/49Paper, 'Concerning atoms and motion' by Mr [William?] Neile [17th century]
CLP/3i/53Paper, 'Hypothesis of motion' by Wm [William] Neile[1669]
EL/N1/18Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg26 January [1669]
EL/N1/17Letter, from William Neile to Henry OldenburgJanuary [1669]
EL/N1/13Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg28 December [1668]
EL/N1/10Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg5 December 1667
EL/N1/11Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg15 December 1667
CLP/3i/51Paper, 'Philosophical apearances [appearances]' by [William] Neile[17th century]
CLP/3i/52Paper, regarding the motion of bodies by W [William] Neile28 June 1669
EL/N1/9Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg30 October
EL/N1/20Letter, from William Neile to Henry Oldenburg7 May 1669
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