‘To the publike advancement’ John Collins and the promotion of mathematical knowledge in Restoration England

Abstract

Dedicated to the memory of Jacqueline Stedall

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ See for example Barrow 1674, and Edward Bernard to Collins, 3 April 1671 (Rigaud 1841, I, 159).

² See Bieber 1925, 94.

³ Collins to John Wallis, 21/[31] March 1670/1 (Beeley and Scriba 2003ff, III, 437).

⁴ See Thomas Strode to Collins, 31 May/[10 June] 1673 (Rigaud 1841, II, 448). Strode's ‘Apollonius analyticus’ was never published, but survives in manuscript at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Savile 43.

⁵ This decision was taken at the meeting of Council on 5 November, 1667. See Birch 1756–7, II, 206: ‘Dr Wilkins moved, that Mr Collins might be declared exempt from the payment of admission-money and the weekly payments, he having but a small revenue, and being capable and willing to do the society very good service. The council declared him exempt accordingly.’

⁶ See for example Collins 1669.

⁷ Collins to James Gregory, February/early March 1667/8 (Rigaud 1841, II, 178).

⁸ Collins to John Pell, 14/[24] November 1668; London, British Library, Add MS 4278, f 345r–345v.

⁹ Collins to James Gregory, 1/[11] March 1669/70 (Turnbull 1939, 85).

¹⁰ Collins to James Gregory, February/early March 1667/8 (Rigaud 1841, II, 178).

¹¹ Collins to Francis Vernon, February? 1671 (Rigaud 1841, I, 139–140).

¹² See Scriba 1964.

¹³ John Wallis to Collins, 11/[21] January 1669/70 (Beeley and Scriba 2003, III, 292–293).

¹⁴ Collins to Edward Bernard, 16/[26] March 1670/1 (Beeley and Scriba 2003, III, 431).

¹⁵ [Collins], ‘A Narrative of the Case of John Collins Accomptant in relation to Employment about his Majesties affaires’, Kew, The National Archives, SP 29, 398 (f 261r–261v).