John Hymers
Encyclopedia
John Hymers mathematician
, was born at Ormesby
, near Middlesbrough
, Yorkshire
, the son of Thomas Hymers, a tenant farmer under Sir James Pennymon, and his wife, the daughter of John Parrington, rector of Skelton-in-Cleveland
, England.
and Sedbergh School
, Hymers gained a sizar
ship at St John's College, Cambridge
, in 1822. He graduated as second wrangler in 1826, and was elected fellow of St John's College in 1827.
at Cambridge. Most of his books reveal a vast acquaintance with the development of mathematics on the continent. For instance, in the second edition of his Integral Calculus (1835) he introduced English students to the topic of elliptic function
s, then newly discovered by C. G. J. Jacobi (1804–1851) working in Königsberg
. Hymers was quick to appreciate any new mathematical technique; the most outstanding example concerns his use of differential operator methods for the solution of differential equations. In particular, his Differential Equations and the Calculus of Finite Differences (1839) incorporated the new solution of the Laplacian equation for the figure of the earth as given by Thomas Gaskin in symbolic form; it was the elaboration of this original solution by Robert Leslie Ellis
in 1841 which led largely to George Boole
's masterpiece On a general method in analysis in 1844 (PRS, 5, 1843–50). Boole's novel comprehensive method, which applied now to a wide class of differential equations important in physics, was, in its turn, presented by Hymers in the revised edition of his Differential Equations (1858) in a remarkably clear manner.
Hymers became a deacon
in 1833 and was ordained priest in the following year. He received the BD in 1836 and was elected senior fellow of his college and fellow of the Royal Society
in 1838. In 1841 he was Lady Margaret preacher, and received the DD; he was made president of his college in 1848. In 1852 he was presented by his college to the rectory of Brandesburton
in Holderness
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, where he spent the last thirty-five years of his life. Appointed JP for the East Riding
in 1857, his decisions as a magistrate were noted for their precision.
As a textbook writer, Hymers marked an era in the history of St John's College at Cambridge; he was also a good classical scholar. He numbered among his pupils J. W. Colenso and William Cavendish
(1808–1891). He presented to the college library some manuscripts of Wordsworth, with whom he was distantly connected, and a portrait of Wordsworth was painted under his care for the college. An active traveller, Hymers enjoyed good health all his life. He died at Brandesburton on 7 April 1887. He was unmarried.
, to provide for the foundation of a grammar school, "for the training of intelligence in whatever social rank of life it may be found among the vast and varied population of the Town." An obscurity in the wording of the will rendered the bequest invalid, but his heir, his brother Robert Hymers, voluntarily granted the sum of £50,000 for the establishment of Hymers College
, Hull
.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, was born at Ormesby
Ormesby
Ormesby is a former village, and now suburb, spanning the Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland unitary authorities in north east England, within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It forms part of the Middlesbrough urban agglomeration...
, near Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, the son of Thomas Hymers, a tenant farmer under Sir James Pennymon, and his wife, the daughter of John Parrington, rector of Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland is a small town in the civil parish of Skelton and Brotton in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire in the North East of England. It is situated at the foot of the Cleveland Hills and about east of Middlesbrough. Skelton is...
, England.
Education
After attending schools at Witton-le-WearWitton-le-Wear
Witton-le-Wear is a small village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Wear, to the north-west of Bishop Auckland.-Geography and administration:...
and Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
, Hymers gained a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
ship at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, in 1822. He graduated as second wrangler in 1826, and was elected fellow of St John's College in 1827.
Career
For some years Hymers was a successful tutor of private pupils, and then became assistant tutor of his college in 1829 and tutor in 1832, and was moderator in the mathematical tripos in 1833–4. Hymers was an esteemed and conscientious tutor, but his most important influence was exerted through his mathematical textbooks. His Treatise on the Analytical Geometry of Three Dimensions (1830) was followed by his Treatise on Conic Sections (1837), which became the standard textbook on analytic geometryAnalytic geometry
Analytic geometry, or analytical geometry has two different meanings in mathematics. The modern and advanced meaning refers to the geometry of analytic varieties...
at Cambridge. Most of his books reveal a vast acquaintance with the development of mathematics on the continent. For instance, in the second edition of his Integral Calculus (1835) he introduced English students to the topic of elliptic function
Elliptic function
In complex analysis, an elliptic function is a function defined on the complex plane that is periodic in two directions and at the same time is meromorphic...
s, then newly discovered by C. G. J. Jacobi (1804–1851) working in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
. Hymers was quick to appreciate any new mathematical technique; the most outstanding example concerns his use of differential operator methods for the solution of differential equations. In particular, his Differential Equations and the Calculus of Finite Differences (1839) incorporated the new solution of the Laplacian equation for the figure of the earth as given by Thomas Gaskin in symbolic form; it was the elaboration of this original solution by Robert Leslie Ellis
Robert Leslie Ellis
Robert Leslie Ellis was an English polymath, remembered principally as a mathematician and editor of the works of Francis Bacon....
in 1841 which led largely to George Boole
George Boole
George Boole was an English mathematician and philosopher.As the inventor of Boolean logic—the basis of modern digital computer logic—Boole is regarded in hindsight as a founder of the field of computer science. Boole said,...
's masterpiece On a general method in analysis in 1844 (PRS, 5, 1843–50). Boole's novel comprehensive method, which applied now to a wide class of differential equations important in physics, was, in its turn, presented by Hymers in the revised edition of his Differential Equations (1858) in a remarkably clear manner.
Hymers became a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1833 and was ordained priest in the following year. He received the BD in 1836 and was elected senior fellow of his college and fellow 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 1838. In 1841 he was Lady Margaret preacher, and received the DD; he was made president of his college in 1848. In 1852 he was presented by his college to the rectory of Brandesburton
Brandesburton
Brandesburton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Hornsea and north-east of the market town of Beverley....
in Holderness
Holderness
Holderness is an area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the east coast of England. An area of rich agricultural land, Holderness was marshland until it was drained in the Middle Ages. Topographically, Holderness has more in common with the Netherlands than other parts of Yorkshire...
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, where he spent the last thirty-five years of his life. Appointed JP for the East Riding
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
in 1857, his decisions as a magistrate were noted for their precision.
As a textbook writer, Hymers marked an era in the history of St John's College at Cambridge; he was also a good classical scholar. He numbered among his pupils J. W. Colenso and William Cavendish
William Cavendish
Sir William Cavendish was an English courtier.-Life:He was the younger son of Thomas Cavendish , who was a senior financial official, the "clerk of the pipe", in the Court of Exchequer, and his wife, Alice Smith of Padbrook Hall...
(1808–1891). He presented to the college library some manuscripts of Wordsworth, with whom he was distantly connected, and a portrait of Wordsworth was painted under his care for the college. An active traveller, Hymers enjoyed good health all his life. He died at Brandesburton on 7 April 1887. He was unmarried.
Legacy
By his will of 24 August 1885, he bequeathed some of his property to the mayor and corporation of HullKingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, to provide for the foundation of a grammar school, "for the training of intelligence in whatever social rank of life it may be found among the vast and varied population of the Town." An obscurity in the wording of the will rendered the bequest invalid, but his heir, his brother Robert Hymers, voluntarily granted the sum of £50,000 for the establishment of Hymers College
Hymers College
Hymers College is a co-educational independent school located on the site of the old Botanic Gardens of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1893 as a boys' school, but expanded to include girls from the 1970s onwards.-History:...
, Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
.