Alfred Rupert Hall
Encyclopedia
Alfred Rupert Hall (26 July 1920 – 5 February 2009) was a prominent British
Historian of Science notably renown for editing a valuable collection of Isaac
Newton
's unpublished scientific papers (1962) and publishing Newton's correspondence, in 1977.
, Cambridge
, in 1938 to study history, but his studies were interrupted by war service. He completed his degree in 1946 and began postgraduate research. As a boy he had delighted in the history of inventions and devices, and the army had given him hands-on experience; his doctoral thesis which was on 17th-century ballistics was published as a book in 1952. In 1949 he was elected a fellow of Christ's College.
Hall was unusual in coming to the discipline from history, not science, and his background would yield fresh and different perspectives in this new emerging field. Charles Singer
, the first president of the British Society for the History of Science, was not alone in having suspicions about someone without a scientific education teaching the history of science. Nevertheless, Hall won him round, and they were to co-operate in editing the five-volume History of Technology published by Oxford University Press in 1954-58.
In 1948 Hall was appointed as the first curator of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science
, in Cambridge, and in 1950 began lecturing in the subject. Soon, the discipline was formally accepted into the tripos structure of degrees, and the department of history and philosophy of science was established, now the largest university department of its kind in the UK.
Meanwhile, Marie Boas had come from the US to work on Robert Boyle
's papers, and met Hall, who was working on Isaac Newton's. In 1959 Hall, whose first marriage had ended in divorce, joined her in the US and they were married. In 1963 they were invited back to Imperial College in London
, where Hall became the first professor of the history of science.
Between 1962 and 1986 the Halls edited, translated and published in 13 volumes the correspondence of Henry Oldenburg
, the secretary of the Royal Society
in its early days, and founding editor of its journal, Philosophical Transactions, which grew out of his extensive international letter-writing. They also edited a valuable collection of Newton's unpublished scientific papers (1962). In 1980 he published Philosophers at War, an account of Newton's disreputable quarrel with Leibniz.
Rupert directed the Wellcome Trust
programme on the history of medicine for 4 years, a programme which funds courses in various universities and gives bursaries to individuals.
As David Knight ends the obituary to Rupert Hall published in The Guardian in 2009:
"Rupert and Marie were inseparable and devoted; she died 18 days after him. They not only filled gaps in our knowledge of 17th-century science, but were exemplary in being genial, encouraging and helpful to younger scholars."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Historian of Science notably renown for editing a valuable collection of Isaac
Isaac
Isaac as described in the Hebrew Bible, was the only son Abraham had with his wife Sarah, and was the father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites...
Newton
Newton
Newton is a contraction of "New Town", the name of many places in English-speaking countries. It may refer to:-People:* Isaac Newton , English mathematician, philosopher and scientist* Newton , lists of notable people with the surname...
's unpublished scientific papers (1962) and publishing Newton's correspondence, in 1977.
Life
He went to Christ's CollegeChrist's College
Christ's College is a name shared by several educational establishments. Among them are:* Christ's College, Aberdeen, in Scotland* Christ's College, Cambridge, one of the constituent Colleges of the University of Cambridge, England...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, in 1938 to study history, but his studies were interrupted by war service. He completed his degree in 1946 and began postgraduate research. As a boy he had delighted in the history of inventions and devices, and the army had given him hands-on experience; his doctoral thesis which was on 17th-century ballistics was published as a book in 1952. In 1949 he was elected a fellow of Christ's College.
Hall was unusual in coming to the discipline from history, not science, and his background would yield fresh and different perspectives in this new emerging field. Charles Singer
Charles Singer
Charles Joseph Singer was a British historian of science, technology, and medicine.-Early years:Singer was born in Camberwell in London, where his father Simeon Singer was a minister and Hebraist. He was educated at City of London School, University College London, and Magdalen College, Oxford...
, the first president of the British Society for the History of Science, was not alone in having suspicions about someone without a scientific education teaching the history of science. Nevertheless, Hall won him round, and they were to co-operate in editing the five-volume History of Technology published by Oxford University Press in 1954-58.
In 1948 Hall was appointed as the first curator of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Whipple Museum of the History of Science
The Whipple Museum of the History of Science holds an extensive collection of scientific instruments, apparatus, models, pictures, prints, photographs, books and other material related to the history of science. It was founded in 1944, when Robert Whipple presented his collection of scientific...
, in Cambridge, and in 1950 began lecturing in the subject. Soon, the discipline was formally accepted into the tripos structure of degrees, and the department of history and philosophy of science was established, now the largest university department of its kind in the UK.
Meanwhile, Marie Boas had come from the US to work on Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
's papers, and met Hall, who was working on Isaac Newton's. In 1959 Hall, whose first marriage had ended in divorce, joined her in the US and they were married. In 1963 they were invited back to Imperial College in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where Hall became the first professor of the history of science.
Between 1962 and 1986 the Halls edited, translated and published in 13 volumes the correspondence of Henry Oldenburg
Henry Oldenburg
Henry Oldenburg was a German theologian known as a diplomat and a natural philosopher. He was one of the foremost intelligencers of Europe of the seventeenth century, with a network of correspondents to rival those of Fabri de Peiresc, Marin Mersenne and Ismaël Boulliau...
, the secretary of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in its early days, and founding editor of its journal, Philosophical Transactions, which grew out of his extensive international letter-writing. They also edited a valuable collection of Newton's unpublished scientific papers (1962). In 1980 he published Philosophers at War, an account of Newton's disreputable quarrel with Leibniz.
Rupert directed the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
programme on the history of medicine for 4 years, a programme which funds courses in various universities and gives bursaries to individuals.
As David Knight ends the obituary to Rupert Hall published in The Guardian in 2009:
"Rupert and Marie were inseparable and devoted; she died 18 days after him. They not only filled gaps in our knowledge of 17th-century science, but were exemplary in being genial, encouraging and helpful to younger scholars."
Works
- Ballistics in the seventeenth century ; a study in the relations of science and war with reference principally to England. Cambridge [Eng.: University Press, 1952.
- The scientific revolution, 1500-1800; the formation of the modern scientific attitude. London,: Longmans, Green, 1954.
- Isaac Newton. Unpublished scientific papers of Isaac Newton: a selection from the Portsmouth collection in the University Library, Cambridge. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press. (Edited by Hall, A. Rupert and Marie Boas Hall), 1962.
- Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg. Madison,: University of Wisconsin Press. (Edited by Hall, A. Rupert and Marie Boas Hall), 1965.
- The Cambridge Philosophical Society: a history, 1819-1969. Cambridge,: Scientific Periodical Library], 1969.
- Philosophers at war : the quarrel between Newton and Leibniz. Cambridge [Eng.]: Cambridge University Press, 1980.
- From Galileo to Newton. New York: Dover Publications, 1981.
- The revolution in science, 1500-1750. 3rd ed. London: Longman, 1983.
- Henry More : magic, religion, and experiment. Blackwell science biographies. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 1990.
- Isaac Newton, adventurer in thought. Blackwell science biographies. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 1992.
- History of technology. London, Eng.: Mansell. (with Norman Alfred Fisher Smith)