John Wallis: Mathematician, Cryptographer, and Polymath
Early Life:
John Wallis was born on November 23, 1616, in Ashford, Kent, England. His father, Reverend John Wallis, was a clergyman, and his mother, Joanna Chapman Wallis, was the daughter of a successful lawyer. Despite being born into a family of modest means, Wallis showed an early aptitude for learning.
At the age of seven, Wallis suffered from smallpox, which left him partially deaf. Despite this challenge, he overcame the impediment and went on to make significant contributions to various fields, particularly mathematics.
Education:
Wallis attended the King’s School in Ashford, where he demonstrated exceptional mathematical talent. Recognizing his abilities, his schoolmaster, John Greaves, introduced him to the works of Euclid and other mathematical texts.
In 1630, Wallis entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, at the age of 14. He continued to excel in mathematics, studying under the guidance of William Oughtred and Seth Ward. During his time at Cambridge, Wallis was influenced by the emerging ideas of the Scientific Revolution.
Mathematical Contributions:
In 1643, Wallis was appointed as the Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, a position he held for the rest of his life. This appointment marked the beginning of his academic career, where he made lasting contributions to mathematics.
One of Wallis’s most notable achievements was his introduction of the symbol for infinity (∞). In his work “Arithmetica Infinitorum” (1655), he used this symbol to represent an unbounded quantity. This notation became standard in mathematics.
Wallis also worked on the development of analytical geometry and made significant advancements in the understanding of curves. He studied the properties of conic sections and contributed to the theory of equations.
Cryptanalysis:
During the English Civil War, Wallis served as a cryptographer for Parliament, helping to decipher Royalist codes. His skills in cryptanalysis gained him recognition and demonstrated the practical applications of mathematics in the real world.
Royal Society and Academia:
Wallis played a crucial role in the establishment of the Royal Society, a scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of natural knowledge. He served as the Society’s secretary from 1661 to 1677, where he documented and communicated scientific discoveries.
In 1669, Wallis was elected as the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, adding astronomy to his repertoire of academic interests. He continued to contribute to various scientific disciplines throughout his career.
Legacy:
John Wallis’s legacy extends beyond his mathematical contributions. He was a versatile scholar with interests in theology, grammar, and cryptography. In addition to his mathematical works, Wallis published works on grammar, logic, and theology.
Wallis passed away on October 28, 1703, leaving behind a substantial body of work that influenced the development of mathematics and science. His dedication to both theoretical and applied aspects of mathematics, along with his contributions to cryptanalysis and his role in the formation of the Royal Society, solidified his place as a prominent figure in the history of mathematics and academia.
