Table of Contents

Introduction. The King’s Observatory at Greenwich and the first Astronomers Royal: Flamsteed to Bliss. Greenwich, Nevil Maskelyne and the solution to the Longitude Problem. George Biddell Airy, Greenwich and the Utility of Calculating Engines. The Mathematical Riddles of Greenwich. Thomas Archer Hirst at Greenwich, 1873 – 1883. A Professor at Greenwich: William Burnside and his contributions to mathematics. L.J. Comrie: Mechanising Mathematical Tablemaking at Greenwich. The Royal Observatory 1881 – 1998. At the foot of the hill – the Royal Naval College and after. Artful Measures: Mathematical Instruments at the National Maritime Museum. Appendix – the Mathematical Tourist at Greenwich.

About the Author

Raymond Flood

Raymond Flood has spent most of his academic life promoting mathematics and computing to adult audiences, mainly through his position as University Lecturer at Oxford University, in the Continuing Education Department and at Kellogg College. In parallel he has worked extensively on the history of mathematics, producing many books and other educational material.

He is Emeritus Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford, having been Vice-President of the College and President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics before retiring in 2010. He was Gresham College Professor of Geometry from 2012 to 2016. He is a graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast; Linacre College, Oxford; and University College, Dublin where he obtained his PhD.

Tony Mann

Tony Mann is Director of Greenwich Maths Centre at the University of Greenwich, where he has taught for many years. He is a past President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics, and has published on mathematics in Victorian Scotland and on mathematics in fiction. He is a former Visiting Professor of Computing Mathematics at Gresham College.

As a former undergraduate at Pembroke College Cambridge, with which Burnside was closely connected, Tony is pleased to have edited, with Peter M. Neumann and Julia Tompson, The Collected Papers of William Burnside (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Mary Croarken

Mary Croarken started her academic career at the University of Warwick with a degree in Computer Science and then a PhD in History of Computing. Mary has subsequently held a series of academic fellowships including the Sackler Fellowship at the Centre for Maritime Research at the National Maritime Museum (NMM) 2000 – 2002. While at NMM, she helped to organise a joint NMM and British Society for the History of Mathematics conference called Greenwich: Some Mathematical Connections which provided the inspiration for this book. Mary continues her academic interests in human computers but now works full time supporting health research in the NHS.

Reviews

"Some time ago, I attended an interesting short conference on Greenwich: some Mathematical Connections. I am delighted that this has inspired the present volume, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich, that features many of the same eminent contributors. Greenwich has a unique status in Britain, rightly recognised as a World Heritage Site: a centre for shipping and navigation, astronomy and education, and an architectural treasure. This book comprehensively explores the important role of mathematics in its long history. From John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal at the ‘King’s Observatory’ who compiled reliable astronomical tables, to his successors, Nevil Maskelyne and George Biddell Airy, there was strong emphasis on accurate computation alongside precise observations. In more recent times, L.J. Comrie oversaw the mechanical production of mathematical tables. The Greenwich Royal Hospital School and Greenwich Naval College educated the youth, and several professors did notable research, particularly Thomas Archer Hirst and William Burnside.In its twelve chapters, this book gives a comprehensive, scholarly and readable overview of Greenwich and its mathematical, astronomical and computational achievements. As a bonus, it is attractively illustrated with numerous portraits and other images."— Emeritus Professor Alexander Craik, University of St AndrewsFrom the building of the Royal Observatory in the 1670s, to the 21st century mathematics department at the University, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich shows that Greenwich has a long, varied and important mathematical history. It is a history which, amongst other things, encompasses the longitude problem, calculating machines and mathematical instruments, and major figures including John Flamsteed, George Biddell Airy, Thomas Archer Hirst and William Burnside. Raymond Flood, Tony Mann and Mary Coarken have brought together a group of authors who are both experts in their fields and excellent communicators to produce a wonderful edited volume. Mathematics at the Meridian is a treasure trove for anyone interested in mathematics, astronomy and their history.—Dr Mark McCartney, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, Ulster University"I can thoroughly recommend this book for anybody interested in any of the diverse topic covered however, despite what at first glance, might appear as a somewhat specialised book, I can also recommend it for the more general reader interested in the histories of mathematics, astronomy and navigation or those perhaps interested in the cultural history of one of London’s most fascinating district. After all mathematics, astronomy and navigation are all parts of human culture."—Thony Christie"An impressively organized and presented work of detailed historical research and scholarship, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich is unreservedly recommended for college and university library History of Mathematics collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists."—Midwest Book Review

"Some time ago, I attended an interesting short conference on Greenwich: some Mathematical Connections. I am delighted that this has inspired the present volume, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich, that features many of the same eminent contributors. Greenwich has a unique status in Britain, rightly recognised as a World Heritage Site: a centre for shipping and navigation, astronomy and education, and an architectural treasure. This book comprehensively explores the important role of mathematics in its long history. From John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal at the ‘King’s Observatory’ who compiled reliable astronomical tables, to his successors, Nevil Maskelyne and George Biddell Airy, there was strong emphasis on accurate computation alongside precise observations. In more recent times, L.J. Comrie oversaw the mechanical production of mathematical tables. The Greenwich Royal Hospital School and Greenwich Naval College educated the youth, and several professors did notable research, particularly Thomas Archer Hirst and William Burnside.In its twelve chapters, this book gives a comprehensive, scholarly and readable overview of Greenwich and its mathematical, astronomical and computational achievements. As a bonus, it is attractively illustrated with numerous portraits and other images."
— Emeritus Professor Alexander Craik, University of St Andrews, UKFrom the building of the Royal Observatory in the 1670s, to the 21st century mathematics department at the University, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich shows that Greenwich has a long, varied and important mathematical history. It is a history which, amongst other things, encompasses the longitude problem, calculating machines and mathematical instruments, and major figures including John Flamsteed, George Biddell Airy, Thomas Archer Hirst and William Burnside. Raymond Flood, Tony Mann and Mary Coarken have brought together a group of authors who are both experts in their fields and excellent communicators to produce a wonderful edited volume. Mathematics at the Meridian is a treasure trove for anyone interested in mathematics, astronomy and their history.
—Dr Mark McCartney, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, Ulster University, UK"I can thoroughly recommend this book for anybody interested in any of the diverse topic covered however, despite what at first glance, might appear as a somewhat specialised book, I can also recommend it for the more general reader interested in the histories of mathematics, astronomy and navigation or those perhaps interested in the cultural history of one of London’s most fascinating district. After all mathematics, astronomy and navigation are all parts of human culture."
—Thony Christie, Germany"An impressively organized and presented work of detailed historical research and scholarship, Mathematics at the Meridian: The History of Mathematics at Greenwich is unreservedly recommended for college and university library History of Mathematics collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists."
—Midwest Book Review, USA"[. . .] Greenwich is perhaps a unique location in the history of mathematics for its long devotion to observational astronomy, the resulting detailed calculations, production of mathematical and nautical tables, and naval education at both school and university level. Some of the topics covered here are quite well-known, others much less so. Together, Mathematics at the Meridian makes their history accessible, tracing the lives of the individuals and institutions involved over the span of more than three centuries."
—Duncan J. Melville for Mathematical Association for America, Historian of Mathematics and professor at St. Lawrence University, USA"Each chapter is prefaced by a table of contents, and the chronological organization contributes to the clarity and flow. Throughout there is a plentiful supply of images. This book is a welcome addition to the literature on the history of the British Isles, and to the history of mathematics. Like any good book it should act as a spur to further research, and should not be considered just as the last word, or a monument."
—Mathematical Gazette