Mathematicians Of The Day

6th March



On this day in 1689 Edmond Halley first wrote about diving equipment, perhaps prompted by his work on the Thames survey undertaken around that time. Halley proposed a mobile diving bell built on four wheels, and while he did not build that particular bell, he did build another as part of his salvage work on the wreck of the Guynie frigate.
See THIS LINK and a stamp at THIS LINK.

The postage stamp of one of today's mathematicians at THIS LINK was issued in 1995.

Click on for a poster.


Quotation of the day

From William Whewell
Nobody since Newton has been able to use geometrical methods to the same extent for the like purposes; and as we read the Principia we feel as when we are in an ancient armoury where the weapons are of gigantic size; and as we look at them we marvel what manner of man he was who could use as a weapon what we can scarcely lift as a burden.
Quoted in J R Newman (ed.) The World of Mathematics, 1956.