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Alexander Wilson (mathematician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Wilson was a Scottish surgeon, type-founder, astronomer, mathematician and meteorologist. He was the first scientist to record the use of kites in meteorological investigations.
His son Patrick Wilson succeeded him as Regius Professor of Practical Astronomy at Glasgow University, in 1784.
He was first apprenticed to a physician in St Andrews where he became skilled in constructing mercury thermometer
s in glass. In 1737 he left for London, to make his fortune and found work as assistant to a French surgeon-apothecary
, which included caring for his patients. During this time he was introduced to Lord Isla
who like Wilson was interested in astronomy, and Wilson constructed instruments for Isla during 1738.
After visiting a type foundry with a friend in London, he had an idea for making better typeface
s. He and his friend John Baine returned to St Andrews in 1739, where they started a type-founding business in 1742.
, near Glasgow
in 1744. In 1748 he was appointed type-founder to Glasgow University. In the following year the partnership with Baine was dissolved. Later his sons became partners. He supplied types to the Foulis press making possible their beautiful and artistic publications. Among modern typefaces, Fontana, Scotch Roman, and Wilson Greek
are based on types cut by Alexander Wilson. His work can be seen, for example, at Examples of Foulis Press Books.
In 1749 Wilson made the first recorded use of kite
s in meteorology
with his lodger, a 23-year-old Glasgow University student Thomas Melvill
, who went on to discover sodium light. They measured air temperature at various levels above the ground simultaneously with a train of kites.
With the help of his friend Lord Isla, now the 3rd Duke of Argyle, he was appointed in 1760 to the new chair of practical astronomy at the University of Glasgow
, which had recently built the Macfarlane Observatory
. Wilson primarily made contributions to astronomy and meteorology, and posited that "what hinders the fixed stars from falling upon one another", the question that Newton had posed in his Opticks (1704), was that the entire universe rotated around its centre. This has been found to be true of the stars of the Galaxy, the then known universe, which rotates around a central black hole. It is not true for the galaxies of the Universe which is expanding.
Wilson noted that sunspot
s viewed near the edge of the Sun's visible disk appear depressed below the solar surface, a phenomenon referred to as the Wilson effect
. When the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
announced a prize to be awarded for the best essay on the nature of solar spots, Wilson submitted an entry. On 18 February 1772 the Academy presented Wilson with a gold medal for his work on sunspots.
The crater Wilson
on the Moon is named for him, Ralph Elmer Wilson
and CTR Wilson
.
He, and his second son Patrick (Peter) Wilson, were two of the founding members of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
(RSE). Peter wrote a biographical article of his father which was published both in the Transactions of the RSE and Edinburgh Journal of Science, now available on-line.
His son Patrick Wilson succeeded him as Regius Professor of Practical Astronomy at Glasgow University, in 1784.
Early life
Wilson was born in St. Andrews, Fife, the son of Patrick Wilson, the town clerk. Alexander was educated at the University of St. Andrews from where he graduated MA in 1733, at the age of 18.He was first apprenticed to a physician in St Andrews where he became skilled in constructing mercury thermometer
Thermometer
Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient using a variety of different principles. A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer (from the...
s in glass. In 1737 he left for London, to make his fortune and found work as assistant to a French surgeon-apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
, which included caring for his patients. During this time he was introduced to Lord Isla
Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, 1st Earl of Ilay was a Scottish nobleman, politician, lawyer, businessman and soldier...
who like Wilson was interested in astronomy, and Wilson constructed instruments for Isla during 1738.
After visiting a type foundry with a friend in London, he had an idea for making better typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
s. He and his friend John Baine returned to St Andrews in 1739, where they started a type-founding business in 1742.
Glasgow University
The company moved to CamlachieCamlachie
Camlachie is an area of the city of Glasgow in Scotland. Formerly a weaving village on the Camlachie Burn, it is located in the east end of the city, between Dennistoun to the north, and Bridgeton to the south....
, near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1744. In 1748 he was appointed type-founder to Glasgow University. In the following year the partnership with Baine was dissolved. Later his sons became partners. He supplied types to the Foulis press making possible their beautiful and artistic publications. Among modern typefaces, Fontana, Scotch Roman, and Wilson Greek
Wilson Greek
Wilson Greek is a polytonic Greek typeface designed in 1995 by Matthew Carter, notable for its large inventory of ligatures. It is based on a typeface designed in 1756 by Alexander Wilson for an edition of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey published that same year in Glasgow by Robert and Andrew Foulis...
are based on types cut by Alexander Wilson. His work can be seen, for example, at Examples of Foulis Press Books.
In 1749 Wilson made the first recorded use of kite
Kite
A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
s in meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
with his lodger, a 23-year-old Glasgow University student Thomas Melvill
Thomas Melvill
Thomas Melvill was a Scottish natural philosopher, who was active in the fields of spectroscopy and astronomy.The son of Helen Whytt and the Rev Andrew Melville, minister of Monimail , Thomas was a student at Glasgow University...
, who went on to discover sodium light. They measured air temperature at various levels above the ground simultaneously with a train of kites.
With the help of his friend Lord Isla, now the 3rd Duke of Argyle, he was appointed in 1760 to the new chair of practical astronomy at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, which had recently built the Macfarlane Observatory
Macfarlane Observatory
At Glasgow University, the Macfarlane Observatory was established in 1757 with instruments donated by Alexander Macfarlane, a merchant in Jamaica. The instruments arrived to Glasgow in a deteriorated condition, and their suitability for mounting was in question before they were taken in hand by...
. Wilson primarily made contributions to astronomy and meteorology, and posited that "what hinders the fixed stars from falling upon one another", the question that Newton had posed in his Opticks (1704), was that the entire universe rotated around its centre. This has been found to be true of the stars of the Galaxy, the then known universe, which rotates around a central black hole. It is not true for the galaxies of the Universe which is expanding.
Wilson noted that sunspot
Sunspot
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
s viewed near the edge of the Sun's visible disk appear depressed below the solar surface, a phenomenon referred to as the Wilson effect
Wilson effect
In 1769 a Scottish astronomer named Alexander Wilson, working at the Macfarlane Observatory, noticed that the shape of sunspots noticeably flattened as they approached the Sun's limb due to the solar rotation. These observations showed that sunspots were features on the solar surface, as opposed to...
. When the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is a Danish non-governmental science Academy, founded 13 November 1742 by permission of the King Christian VI, as a historical Collegium Antiquitatum...
announced a prize to be awarded for the best essay on the nature of solar spots, Wilson submitted an entry. On 18 February 1772 the Academy presented Wilson with a gold medal for his work on sunspots.
The crater Wilson
Wilson (crater)
Wilson is a lunar crater that lies in the southern part of the Moon's near side, to the southwest of the large walled plain Clavius. It is nearly attached to the southeastern rim of the slightly larger crater Kircher. Almost due east lies Klaproth, another walled plain.This crater has a heavily...
on the Moon is named for him, Ralph Elmer Wilson
Ralph Elmer Wilson
Ralph Elmer Wilson was an American astronomer.He earned his B.A. from Carleton College and entered the University of Virginia in 1906, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1910 based on his work at the Leander Mccormick Observatory working with Ormond Stone. He then worked at the Dudley Observatory and by...
and CTR Wilson
Charles Thomson Rees Wilson
Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, CH, FRS was a Scottish physicist and meteorologist who received the Nobel Prize in physics for his invention of the cloud chamber.- Biography:...
.
He, and his second son Patrick (Peter) Wilson, were two of the founding members of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
(RSE). Peter wrote a biographical article of his father which was published both in the Transactions of the RSE and Edinburgh Journal of Science, now available on-line.