SBU-CISM-95-10

A Mathematical Gazetteer.

Singmaster, D.

Abstract

Monuments to mathematicians and places associated with them have always interested me. In 1983, Les Lange asked me to write up my notes and this document is the outgrowth of that request. Since that time, I have done a considerable amount of looking through standard sources and guidebooks, as well as noting material in the journals, in order to amplify what I personally knew. However, this compilation is not systematic - in particular, my study is full of material which has not yet been entered here, or even not yet read.

My knowledge is mostly of the UK, Ireland and Italy, but I have also found a lot on France and Germany.

I have tended to interpret 'mathematics' widely, since early mathematicians were also astronomers, physicists, navigators, instrument makers, architects, philosophers, etc. In more recent times, I have tended to include theoretical physicists and crystallographers. I have included a bit on some non-mathematical scientists whose work has had mathematical significance - e.g. Boyle, Mendel, Mendeleev, R”ntgen

There are many features named for mathematicians on the moon and elsewhere in space, but it is difficult to visit them and hence I will not mention them here. I have generally omitted mazes and sundials - exceptions are made for those with connections to noted persons or those of particular interest.

There are many entries where the information is incomplete or even contradictory. I would be immensely grateful for further information and any corrections.

See my Article 12.12: Monuments to mathematics and mathematicians; in: Companion Encyclopedia of the History and Philosophy of the Mathematical Sciences, ed. by I. Grattan-Guinness. Routledge, 1993, pp. 1659-1664.

Excerpts from this, comprising British (& Irish) material, are appearing as "Mathematical Gazetteer of Britain" in the British Society for the History of Matheamtics Newsletter starting with No. 28 (Spring 1995).

Introduction and Contents.

Institutions in London: Westminster; Museums; Educational Institutions; Learned Societies; Other.

London Individuals.

Monuments in Cambridge: Institutions; Individuals.

Monuments in Oxford: Institutions; Individuals.

Monuments elsewhere in the British Isles: England; Wales; Scotland: Edinburgh; Elsewhere in Scotland; Ireland.

Monuments in France: Paris: Institutions; Individuals; Elsewhere in France.

Monuments in Germany.

Monuments in Italy: Florence: Galileo; Other; Elsewhere in Italy.

Monuments in Other Countries.

Acknowledgments and References.

Queries.

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Mark.Josephs@sbu.ac.uk
Last altered 12th January 1996