Samuel Earnshaw
Samuel Earnshaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1805 |
| Died | 6 December 1888 (aged 83) Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
| Known for | Earnshaw's theorem |
Samuel Earnshaw (1 February 1805, Sheffield, Yorkshire – 6 December 1888, Sheffield, Yorkshire[1]) was an English clergyman and mathematician and physicist, noted for his contributions to theoretical physics, especially for proving Earnshaw's theorem.
Earnshaw was born in Sheffield and entered St John's College, Cambridge, graduating Senior Wrangler and Smith's Prizeman in 1831.[2]
From 1831 to 1847 Earnshaw worked in Cambridge as tripos coach, and in 1846 was appointed to the parish church St. Michael, Cambridge. For a time he acted as curate to the Revd Charles Simeon. In 1847 his health broke down and he returned to Sheffield working as a chaplain and teacher.
Earnshaw published several mathematical and physical articles and books. His most famous contribution, Earnshaw's theorem, shows the impossibility of stability of matter under purely electrostatic forces: other topics included optics, waves, dynamics and acoustics in physics, calculus, trigonometry and partial differential equations in mathematics. As a clergyman, he published several sermons and treatises.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ GRO Register of Deaths: DEC 1888 9c 246 ECCLESALL B. (aged 83)
- ^ "Samuel Earnshaw (ENSW827S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
External links
[edit]- Samuel Earnshaw Archived 12 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine
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