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The Founding of the London Mathematical Society in 1865 View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector HISTORIA MATHEMATICA 22 (1995), 402-421 From Student Club to National Society: The Founding of the London Mathematical Society in 1865 ADRIAN C. RICE,* ROBIN J. WILSON,'}" AND J. HELEN GARDNERt *School of Mathematics and Statistics, Middlesex University, Bounds Green, London Nil 2NG, England; and t Faculty of Mathematics and Computing, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, England In this paper we describe the events leading to the founding of the London Mathematical Society in 1865, and discuss the progress of the Society throughout its first two years. ©1995 Academic Press, Inc. Dans cet article nous d6crivons les 6vbnements qui menaient h la fondation de la Soci6t6 math6matique de Londres (London Mathematical Society) en 1865, et nous examinons l'6volu- tion de la Soci6t6 tout au long de ses deux premibres ann6es. ©1995 AcademicPress, Inc. In dieser Arbeit beschreiben wir die Ereignisse, die zu der Grtindung der London Mathemat- ical Society (LMS) in 1865 geftihrt haben, und besprechen wir die Entwicklung der LMS w~ihrend den ersten zwei Jahren ihrer Existenz. ©1995 AcademicPress, Inc. MSC 1991 subject classification: 01A55. KEY WORDS:London Mathematical Society, University College, London, Augustus De Morgan. 1. INTRODUCTION Throughout the 19th century, science became more specialized than ever before. In Britain, as elsewhere in Europe, this was reflected in the growing dissatisfaction with the established scientific societies. The Royal Society, founded in 1662 to encourage research in the natural and physical sciences, had come under increasing criticism from prominent scientists for its monopolistic position. The need was felt for more specialized outlets for the increasingly divergent branches, resulting in the foundation of the Geological Society in 1807, followed by the Astronomical Society in 1820, the Statistical Society in 1834, and the Chemical Society in 1841, as well as the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831. For the British mathematician of the mid-19th century, however, no national society existed. Whereas some sought solace in the Statistical Society, its priority was more with the collection of data than with their mathematical analysis. More attractive by far was the Astronomical Society. Founded in 1820 by Francis Baily (1774-1844), it quickly became one of the foremost scientific societies in England, receiving its Royal Charter in 1831, and including among its members such mathema- ticians as Charles Babbage (1792-1871), Sir John Herschel (1792-1871), Sir George Biddell Airy (1801-1892), and Augustus De Morgan (1806-1871) (see Appendix). Elsewhere, the Cambridge Philosophical Society (founded in 1819) received mathe- matical papers, but mathematics was far from being its sole concern. The British 402 0315-0860/95 $12.00 Copyright © 1995 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. HM 22 FROM STUDENT CLUB TO NATIONAL SOCIETY 403 Association had a mathematical section, but it met only once a year and, in any case, its agenda was entirely different from that of an academic society. This is not to say that England had been permanently bereft of societies devoted purely to mathematics. Long before the creation of the London Mathematical Society in 1865, such bodies had existed, such as the Manchester Society, founded in 1718, and the Oldham Society of 1794. Of greater renown than either of these was the famous Spitalfields Mathematical Society, which dated from 1717, and which took as its rule "if any member be asked a question in the Mathematics by another, he shall instruct him in the plainest and easiest method he can, or forfeit one shilling" [3, 244]. In his Budget of Paradoxes, De Morgan gives a charming account of their weekly meetings in Crispin Street, East London, noting "that each man had his pipe, his pot, and his problem" [6, 232]. The fact that smoking and drinking were permitted at meetings of the Spitalfields Society contrasts sharply with the more sober gatherings of its successor where, according to De Morgan, "not a drop of liquor is seen at our meetings, except a decanter of water: all our heavy is a fermentation of symbols; and we do not draw it mild" [6, 236]. Although it had been established as a club for the improvement of the studious artisan, especially the silk weavers of East London, membership of the Spitalfields Society is known to have included John Dollond (1706-1761), the renowned manu- facturer of optical instruments; Thomas Simpson (1710-1761), mathematical writer and professor at Woolwich from 1743; and William Frend (1757-1841), mathemati- cian, actuary, and father of De Morgan's wife Sophia. Another reputed member was Abraham de Moivre (1667-1754), although De Morgan thought it unlikely. Perhaps due to the decline in attendance by the working classes, the society's membership dwindled, until by the 1840s there were fewer than 20 members. In 1845, the Society's members decided on dissolution. Rather than let their valuable library be lost, they approached the Royal Astronomical Society to consider incorporating it with their own. De Morgan served on the committee appointed to inspect the old society, reporting to Herschel that it had quite changed from its clay and pewter days: "We found an FRS, an F.Ant.S, an F.Linn.S, a barrister, two silk manufacturers, a surgeon, a distiller, &c.; ... Their library is a good one" [27]. The committee recommended that "the books, records, and memorials of the Mathematical Society should be made over to the Astronomical Society [and] that all the members of the former society not already Fellows of this Society should be thereupon elected Fellows without payment of any contribution whatsoever" [22, 51]. In June 1845, the old mathematical society ceased to exist. For the next 20 years, the two major English outlets for the mathematician were the Royal Society and the Cambridge Philosophical Society. This latter society might have seemed a good starting point for the formation of a sister mathematical society, since Cambridge was, at this time, the foremost place for mathematical instruction in the country. However, there does not seem to have been an adequate number of those sufficiently motivated or interested in forming such a body. London had many more practising mathematicians, not only academic ones, and was clearly at an advantage; so, while it was by no means inevitable, it is not surprising that 404 RICE, WILSON, AND GARDNER HM 22 when a new society was formed, it came into being in the capital. It was also natural that the place of its foundation was University College (see Fig. 1), De Morgan's influence making that institution the centre of mathematical learning in the metropo- lis. In comparison, King's College mathematics was weak and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich provided the only real competition. What is remarkable, however, is that it arose from the efforts, not of De Morgan himself, nor of any mathematician of note, but of two of his pupils, Arthur Cowper Ranyard (1845- 1894) and the professor's own son, George Campbell De Morgan (1841-1867) (see Appendix). 2. THE FORMATION OF THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY The classic (and original) account of the formation of the London Mathematical Society is given by Sophia De Morgan in her Memoir of her husband, published in 1882. The story goes that, sometime in the summer of 1864, the younger De Morgan and Ranyard were "discussing mathematical problems during a walk in the streets, when it struck them that 'it would be very nice to have a Society to which all discoveries in Mathematics could be brought, and where things could be discussed, like the Astronomical'" [9, 281]. The quotation was very probably Ranyard's, as he was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and thus had first-hand experience, but the sentiment clearly belonged to both. In any case, "it FiG. 1. University College London. HM 22 FROM STUDENT CLUB TO NATIONAL SOCIETY 405 was agreed between the young men that this should be proposed, and that George should ask his father to take the chair at the first meeting" [9, 281]. In fact, it would seem that it was Ranyard who made this suggestion to the Professor since, in a letter to Ranyard dated October 30, 1864, George wrote: "As it was you who asked him to preside, would you send a note reminding him of the date?" [25, 554]. Enlisting Augustus De Morgan's support for their venture was easy; it was the name of the new Society that was to cause problems. The tentative title agreed between the two friends was "The London University Mathematics Society," but Professor De Morgan apparently objected to this, although his grounds are not known; however, a circular, lithographed from George De Morgan's handwriting and sent to mathematicians all over the country, reads as follows [21]: University College, Gower Street, W. C. Oct. 10, 1864. Sir, We beg leave to request the honour of your attendance at the first meeting of the 'University College Mathematical Society', which will be held at the College in the Botanical Theatre on the evening of the 7th of November, at eight o'clock precisely. Professor De Morgan has promised to take the chair, and will give an introductory address, and the general objects and plans of the Society may then be discussed. It is proposed that the ordinary meetings of the Society should take place once a month, and that the papers then read should be lithographed and circulated among the members. The annual subscription will not exceed half a guinea. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, G.
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