Mathematician:Oliver Heaviside
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Mathematician
Largely self-taught English mathematician and physicist who was one of the pioneers in the field of electrical engineering.
Invented a considerable amount of the mathematics and terminology used in electromagnetism.
Significantly developed the theory of operational calculus, which are still used in modern-day mathematics in the context of Laplace transforms.
Developed a vector calculus independent of that of Josiah Willard Gibbs, completely independent of him.
Nationality
English
History
- Born: 18 May 1850, Camden Town, London, England
- Died: 3 February 1925, Torquay, Devon, England
Theorems and Definitions
Results named for Oliver Heaviside can be found here.
Definitions of concepts named for Oliver Heaviside can be found here.
Publications
- 1885, 1886, 1887: Electromagnetic Induction and its Propagation
- 1887: Electrical Papers
- 1888/89: Electromagnetic Waves, the Propagation of Potential, and the Electromagnetic Effects of a Moving Charge
- 1889: On the Electromagnetic Effects due to the Motion of Electrification through a Dielectric
- 1892: On the Forces, Stresses, and Fluxes of Energy in the Electromagnetic Field
- 1893: A Gravitational and Electromagnetic Analogy
Notable Quotes
- 'Quaternion' was, I think, defined by an American schoolgirl to be 'an ancient religious ceremony'. This was, however, a complete mistake. The ancients -- unlike Prof. Tait -- knew not and did not worship Quaternions.
- --Preface to Electromagnetic Theory
- Logic can be patient, for it is eternal.
- -- Quoted in 1990: William Dunham: Journey Through Genius: Preface
Sources
- John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "Oliver Heaviside": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
- 1921: C.E. Weatherburn: Elementary Vector Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): Historical Introduction
- 1990: William Dunham: Journey Through Genius ... (previous) ... (next): Preface