Science & Medicine
From the Library of Francis Maseres (1731-1824)
Francis Maseres, the son of a physician who was descended from a family that had been forced to flee France by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, was born in London, England, 15 December 1731, and died in Reigate, Surrey, 19 May 1824, aged 93. He obtained his B. A. degree at Clare College in 1752, obtaining the highest honors in both classics and mathematics, and thereafter moving to the Inner Temple where he was later called to the bar. After practising law for a few years without great success, he was appointed attorney general for Quebec, serving in the post until 1769. On his return to England he became cursitor baron of the Exchequer, an office which he held until his death. He took up residence in chambers at King's Lynch Walk, and actually passed most of his long life at the Inner Temple, bequeathing the inn a library of some 400 volumes and a collection of manuscripts on his death. Those books now being sold stem from his interest in mathematics, which represents the second aspect of his career. As a mathematician he is most remembered for opposing the generalised concept of positive and negative integers in algebra, and thus becoming a negative influence for several decades. On the other hand, however, he is to be credited with generously striving to bring mathematics to a much wider public, not only through his own works, but a number of reprints published at his own expense.
ADAMS, George. An Essay on Vision briefly explaining the Fabric of the Eye, and the nature of vision [including the Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, and Philosophosical Instruments], London, for the author, by R. Hindmarsh, 1792, 8°, second edition, half title, one folding engraved plate (upper margin of first few leaves stained) [Wellcome II, 13] [bound with:] Tiberius CAVALLO. A Treatise on Magnetism, in theory and practice, London by J. Dillon, for W.& S. Jones, 1800, 8°, third edition, 3 folding engraved plates (lacking the final leaf of index, slight offsetting to plates), disbound.
Details
ADAMS, George. An Essay on Vision briefly explaining the Fabric of the Eye, and the nature of vision [including the Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, and Philosophosical Instruments], London, for the author, by R. Hindmarsh, 1792, 8°, second edition, half title, one folding engraved plate (upper margin of first few leaves stained) [Wellcome II, 13] [bound with:] Tiberius CAVALLO. A Treatise on Magnetism, in theory and practice, London by J. Dillon, for W.& S. Jones, 1800, 8°, third edition, 3 folding engraved plates (lacking the final leaf of index, slight offsetting to plates), disbound.
Provenance
Stamps of the Inner Temple Library.