De Morgan, AUGUSTUS

De Morgan, AUGUSTUS, son of Colonel De Morgan of the Indian army, was born in 1806, in Madura, Madras Presidency. Educated at several private schools, he 'read algebra like a novel' (novels themselves he devoured insatiably); but after four years at Trinity College, Cambridge, he graduated as only fourth wrangler (1827). As a result of his revolt from his early evangelical training, he did not take orders. He was appointed first professor of Mathematics in University College, London, after its foundation in 1828. In 1831 he resigned this office, but was reappointed in 1836, and continued in that capacity till 1866. An energetic worker, he was secretary of the Astronomical Society (1831-38 and 1848-54), and held other offices therein. His writings are very numerous. Besides being a mathematician of the first order, he was extensively and minutely versed in the history of the mathematical and physical sciences. He also devoted himself to the development of the Aristotelian or 'Formal' Logic, to which he has given so symbolical a shape as to make it seem like a branch of Algebra, and wrote on the calculation of Insurances and on the Decimal Coinage. His works include Elements of Arithmetic (1831); Algebra (1835); Numbers and Magnitude (1836); Trigonometry and Trigonometrical Analysis (1837); Essay on Probabilities (1838); Formal Logic (1847); Arithmetical Books (1847); Book of Almanacs (1850); Budget of Paradoxes (1872), reprinted from the Athnæum. De Morgan also wrote treatises on the Differential and Integral Calculus; and contributed largely to the Penny Cyclopædia (850 articles). He died 18th March 1871. His library of about 3000 volumes was purchased by Lord Overstone, and given to London University. See the Life by his wife (1882), whose reminiscences were published in 1895.