Greaves, John

Greaves, John

▪ English mathematician, astronomer, and antiquary
born 1602, Colemore, near Alresford, Hampshire, Eng.
died Oct. 8, 1652

      English mathematician, astronomer, and antiquary.

      Greaves was the eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colemore, and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford (B.A., 1621) and Merton College, Oxford (M.A., 1628). In 1630 he was chosen professor of geometry in Gresham College, London. After travel in Europe (beginning apparently in 1635), he traveled to Constantinople (1638), Rhodes, Egypt, and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean, where he collected a considerable number of Arabic, Persian, and Greek manuscripts and also attempted an accurate survey of the pyramids, using the best mathematical instruments of the day. On his return to Europe he visited for a second time several parts of Italy and, during his stay at Rome, instituted inquiries into ancient weights and measures. He was back in England in 1640, and in 1643 he was appointed Savilian professor of astronomy at the University of Oxford (though, concurrently, he was deprived of his Gresham professorship on the charge of neglecting its duties). In 1646 he published his Pyramidographia, or a Discourse of the Pyramids in Egypt and in 1647 A Discourse of the Roman Foot and Denarius. The period of the English Civil Wars, however, caused him some grief; in 1648 he was ejected from his Savilian professorship on several charges that included aiding and consorting with the Royalists.

      Back in London, Greaves continued his research and writing, living on his private fortune and producing works on astronomy, narratives on the Middle East, and studies of ancient astronomers and mathematicians of the Middle East and India. Several of his works were published posthumously.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • John Greaves (musician) — Infobox musical artist | Name = John Greaves Img capt = John Greaves with the Peter Blegvad Trio performing at a RIO Festival in Southern France, April 2007 ( copy; [http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/big.asp?photoID=3793601 catID= style=… …   Wikipedia

  • John Charles — Pas d image ? Cliquez ici. Biographie Nom William …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John Goodall — Pas d image ? Cliquez ici. Biographie Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Greaves — may refer to*Greave, armour that protects the leg (military) *Greaves (food)Greaves is also a surname, which may refer to:*Jimmy Greaves, English footballer *John Greaves, English mathematician and antiquary *John Greaves, British bass guitarist… …   Wikipedia

  • John Campbell (footballeur, 1871) — John Campbell Pas d image ? Cliquez ici. Biographie Nom John Ja …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John Greaves (Musiker) — John Greaves (2007 auf einem RIO Festival in Südfrankreich) John Greaves (* 23. Januar 1950 in Prestatyn, Wales) ist ein britischer Musiker (Bassgitarre, Piano, Gesang), der vor allem durch seine Zeit bei der Artrock Band Henry Cow und seine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Greaves — (1602 October 8, 1652), English mathematician and antiquary, the eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colemore, was born near Alresford in Hampshire.He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, 1617 ndash; 1621, and in 1630 was chosen professor… …   Wikipedia

  • Greaves — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Jimmy Greaves (* 1940), englischer Fußballspieler John Greaves (1602–1652), britischer Mathematiker und Antiquar John Greaves (* 1950), britischer Musiker Melvin Greaves (*1941), britischer Onkologe… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Greaves — (* 1602 in Alresford, Hampshire; † 8. Oktober 1652 in London) war ein britischer Mathematiker und Altertumsforscher. Greaves war der älteste Sohn von John Greaves, dem Rektor von Colemore. Seine Ausbildung erhielt er zwischen 1617 und 1621… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Campbell (footballeur, 1870) — John Campbell Pas d image ? Cliquez ici. Biographie Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”