Person Molyneux; William (1656 - 1698); natural philosopher and writer Molyneux William natural philosopher and writer Molyneaux 1656 - 1698 British Male New Row, Dublin, Ireland, Europe 17 April 1656 16560417 Dublin, Ireland, Europe 11 October 1698 16981011 Burial: Tomb of Sir William Ussher, north aisle of St Audoen's Church, Dublin, Ireland, Europe

Writer; philosopher Astronomy Physics Education: St Patrick's grammar school; Trinity College, Dublin (BA; LLD 1693); Middle Temple (admitted 1675) Career: Called to the Dublin bar (1678); Published 'Six Metaphysical Meditations' (London, 1680), a translation of Descartes 'Meditationes' (1641); Joint Chief Engineer and Surveyor-General of the King's Buildings and Works in Ireland (1684-1688); founder of Dublin Philosophical Society officially constituted as The Dublin Society for the Improving of Naturall Knowledge, Mathematicks, and Mechanicks (1684); travelled in Holland, France and Germany (1685); designed a sundial-mounted telescope (1685) and published an account of it in Sciothericum Telescopium (Dublin, 1686); published Dioptrica Nova (London, 1692), the first optical treatise to be published in English; lived in Chester (1689-90); MP for City of Dublin and then Dublin University in the Irish Parliament (1690, 1692); originated the 'Molyneux Problem' proposed to John Locke (1693); published 'The Case of Ireland's Being Bound by Acts of Parliament in England Stated' (Dublin, 1698) Memberships: Dublin Philosophical Society (1683, Founder member) Parents: Samuel Molyneux and Margaret Dowdall Siblings: Sir Thomas Molyneux (FRS 1686) Married: Lucy Domville Children: Samuel Molyneux (FRS 1712) His contemporaries during his university studies included Robert Molesworth (FRS 1698) and St George Ashe (FRS 1686). Through his long correspondence with John Flamsteed (FRS 1677), Molyneux further developed his interest in natural philosophy and his formation of what would later be known as the Dublin Philosophical Society was based on the structure of the Royal Society. The famed 'Molyneux problem' asked the question whether a blind person, who had learnt to differentiate shapes by touch, could identify these shapes without touching them after having regained their sight. This became a widely discussed topic in British philosophy. Molyneux's correspondence with John Locke (FRS 1668) also covered education, morals, and ethics. Fellow 03/02/1686 Had multiple papers on a variety of topics, including optics and medicine, published in the 'Philosophical Transactions'; Frequent correspondent on optics, astronomy, and medicine (1680s) Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Irish Innovators; DIB; ODNB O'Connor, John J and Robertson, Edmund F. 'William Molyneux', MacTutor History of Mathematics archive References: Fontes da Costa, P. 2002. 'The Culture of Curiosity at The Royal Society in the first half of the eighteenth century', in Notes and Records, vol. 56, pp. 147-166 Hayes, W. 2003. 'Physics as well as poetry. Physicists of Ireland, edited by M McCartney and A Whitaker', in Notes and Records, vol. 57, pp. 245-246 Hoppen, K T. 1963. 'The Royal Society and Ireland: William Molyneux, FRS (1656-1698)', in Notes and Records, vol. 18, pp. 125-135 Hoppen, K T. 1965. 'The Royal Society and Ireland. II', in Notes and Records, vol. 20, pp. 78-99 Molyneux W, IM006167.jpg ©The Royal Society International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribRaw=Molyneux%2C+William RCN: 55825 RCN: 55824 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH5938 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-19608 17 Apr 1656 - 11 Oct 1698 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 08/11/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA5638 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/1653149296268680670003 a8b72536-130b-4e1c-ac9e-cd9dae1ec915