Authorised form of name | Raphson; Joseph (? 1648 - ? 1716); mathematician and writer |
Dates | ? 1648 - ? 1716 |
Nationality | British |
Place of birth | Middlesex, England, Europe |
Date of birth | ? 1648 |
Date of death | ? 1716 |
Occupation | Author |
Activity | Education: 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 category | Fellow |
Date of election | 30/11/1689 |
Proposer | Edmond Halley |
PublishedWorks | RCN: 49226 RCN: 49227 RCN: 49228 RCN: 49225 RCN: R69339 |
OtherInfo | Unfortunately, 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. |
Source | Sources: 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 File | http://viaf.org/viaf/76326037 |
Code | NA6750 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNo | Title | Date |
MS/390/95 | Bond of Joseph Raphson to the Treasurer of the Royal Society | 4 December 1689 |
NLB/2/124 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Reverend Robert Harley, Fellow of the Royal Society, 4 Wellington Square, Oxford | 25 January 1888 |