ProofWiki:Mathematicians/Peter Barlow
From ProofWiki
English mathematician and physicist, famous for his New Mathematical Tables, which would be later republished and known as Barlow's Tables and become a standard reference work.
Also (disappointingly) notable for his prediction in 1811 that no prime greater than $2^{31} - 1$ would ever be discovered.
Also noted for his work on magnetism and strength of materials.
His incorrect formulation Barlow's law in 1824 appeared to demonstrate that long-distance transmission of electricity was unfeasible, and until it was disproved in 1831 belief in it held back the development of telegraphy for some years.
Contents |
Nationality
English
History
- Born: 15 October 1776, Norwich, England
- 1801 - 1847: Assistant mathematics master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
- 1823: Made a Fellow of the Royal Society
- 1824: Formulated the (incorrect) Barlow's law
- 1825: Received Copley Medal
- 1836, 1839, 1842 and 1845: Sat on various railway commissions
- Died: 1 March 1862, Kent, England
Inventions and Innovations
Books and Papers
- 1811: Elementary Investigation of the Theory of Numbers
- 1814: A New Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary
- 1814: New Mathematical Tables
- 1817: Essay on the strength and stress of timber
