Background
He was born on the 14th of October 1687. He was the eldest son of John Simson of Kirktonhall, West Kilbride in Ayrshire.
(Excerpt from Account of the Life and Writings of Robert S...)
Excerpt from Account of the Life and Writings of Robert Simson, M. D., Late Professor of Mathematics in the University of Glasgow Some hifiory and explanation of the ancient geometrical Analyfis, almoft nece?'arily, forms a part of an account of the literary life of Dr. Simson, by whom that Analyfis has been completely refiored and illuftrated. The Mathematical Collec tions of pappus, in which is contained nearly every thing that is known from the Ancients of that celebrated infirument of inveftigation, which they employed fo fuccefsfully in their geometrical inquiries, from the Doctor's early partiality for that branch of fcience, naturally became an object of his particular fiudy. Some account therefore of that work, and of Dr. Simson's commentaries on it, is requifite for giving a juft view of his geometrical labours, and for eftimating their importance to, what is to much wanted, a corrected edition of that valuable Author. Even with the rilk of feveral repetitions, it has appeared convenient to detach from the Memoir the particular account of pappus, and fome explanations of the ancient Analyfis connected with it, and to annex them as an Appendix. T hefe details, though'unintereftin g to many readers, may be acceptable to others; and my object in preparing them will be attained, if they can fave fome trouble to thofe who at any future time may undertake a new edition of the Alame matical Collections. Two {hort pa?'ages of pappus, concerning the ancient cla?ification of geometrical lines, are added in a fecond appendix, in the original language, with comman dine's verfion of them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0282983643/?tag=2022091-20
(This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 18...)
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1830 edition by C.J.G. Rivington; etc., London.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402151497/?tag=2022091-20
He was born on the 14th of October 1687. He was the eldest son of John Simson of Kirktonhall, West Kilbride in Ayrshire.
Robert Simson was intended for the Church, but the bent of his mind was towards mathematics. He was educated at the University of Glasgow and graduated M. A.
When the prospect opened of his succeeding to the mathematical chair at the University of Glasgow, Simson proceeded to London for further study. After a year in London, he returned to Glasgow and, in 1711, was appointed by the university to the professorship of mathematics, an office which he retained until 1761.
Simson's contributions to mathematical knowledge took the form of critical editions and commentaries on the works of the ancient geometers. The first of his published writings is a paper in the Philosophical Transactions (1723, vol. xl. p. 330) on Euclid's Porisms.
Then followed Sectionum conicarum libri V. (Edinburgh, 1735), a second edition of which, with additions, appeared in 1750. The first three books of this treatise were translated into English and, several times, printed as The Elements of the Conic Sections. In 1749, was published Apollonii Pergaei locorum planorum libri II. , a restoration of Apollonius's lost treatise, founded on the lemmas given in the seventh book of Pappus's Mathematical Collection.
In 1756, appeared, both in Latin and in English, the first edition of his Euclid's Elements. This work, which contained only the first six and the eleventh and twelfth books, and to which, in its English version, he added the Data in 1762, was for long the standard text of Euclid in England.
(This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 18...)
(Excerpt from Account of the Life and Writings of Robert S...)