A history of the progress of the calculus of variations during the nineteenth century. Cambridge and

TODHUNTER, Isaac, (1820-1884).

Published by Macmillan, 1861., London:, 1861

About this Item

8vo. xii, 532, ads. 28 pp. Folding plate containing 12 geometric diagrams, index. Original green blind-stamped cloth, gilt spine; beautifully rebacked preserving original spine. Choice copy. Scarce First edition of Todhunter's important historical work including his own research. Todhunter designed his work to follow that of Robert Woodhouse, whose A TREATISE ON ISOPERIMETRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS, 1810, covered the history up through the end of the eighteenth century. "Within these years he also labored at some works of a more strictly scientific character. Professor Woodhouse (who was the forerunner of the Analytical Society) had written a history of the calculus of variations, ending with the eighteenth century; this work was much admired for its usefulness by Todhunter and as he felt a decided taste for the history of mathematics he formed and carried out the project of continuing the history of that calculus during the nineteenth century. It was the first of the great historical works which has given Todhunter his high place among, the mathematicians of the nineteenth century. This history was published in 1861; in 1862 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. In 1863 he was a candidate for the Sadlerian professorship of Mathematics, to which Cayley was appointed. Todhunter was not a mere mathematical specialist. He was an excellent linguist; besides being a sound Latin and Greek scholar, he was familiar with French, German, Spanish, Italian and also Russian, Hebrew and Sanskrit. He was likewise well versed in philosophy, and for the two years 1863â "5 acted as an Examiner for the Moral Science Tripos, of which the chief founders were himself and Whewell." â " A. Macfarlane, Lectures on Ten British Mathematicians of the Nineteenth Century, New York: Wiley and London: Chapman and Hall 1916, pp. 134â "146. Todhunter (1820-1884), English mathematician, was one of the most influential figures in mathematical education of the 19th century. - DNB. Zeitlinger (Sotheran I, p. 249: "Very scarce"). Cajori, History of mathematics, p. 370. Seller Inventory # SS3608

Bibliographic Details

Title: A history of the progress of the calculus of...

Publisher: Macmillan, 1861., London:

Publication Date: 1861

Binding: Hardcover

Edition: 1st Edition