William Rowan Hamilton
Physicist, Academic
1805 – 1865
Who was William Rowan Hamilton?
Sir William Rowan Hamilton was an Anglo-Irish physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, who made important contributions to classical mechanics, optics, and algebra. His studies of mechanical and optical systems led him to discover new mathematical concepts and techniques. His greatest contribution is perhaps the reformulation of Newtonian mechanics, now called Hamiltonian mechanics. This work has proven central to the modern study of classical field theories such as electromagnetism, and to the development of quantum mechanics. In mathematics, he is perhaps best known as the inventor of quaternions.
Hamilton is said to have shown immense talent at a very early age. Astronomer Bishop Dr. John Brinkley remarked of the 18-year-old Hamilton, 'This young man, I do not say will be, but is, the first mathematician of his age.'
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- Born
- Aug 4, 1805
Dublin - Religion
- Anglicanism
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Profession
- Education
- Trinity College, Dublin
- Westminster School
- Employment
- Trinity College, Dublin
- Lived in
- Ireland
- County Dublin
- United Kingdom
- Died
- Sep 2, 1865
Dublin
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"William Rowan Hamilton." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/william_rowan_hamilton>.
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