Gregory

Gregory, the name of a Scottish family distinguished, like that of the Bernouillis, in the history of science.—JAMES GREGORY was born at Aberdeen in November 1638, and studied at Marischal College there. Before completing his twenty-fourth year he invented the reflecting telescope known by his name, and described it in a work entitled Optica Promota. In 1665 he went to the university of Padua, where in 1667 he produced Vera Circuli et Hyperbolæ Quadratura, followed in 1668 by Geometrie Pars Universalis and Exercitationes Geometricæ. Shortly after his return home he obtained (1669) the professorship of Mathematics at St Andrews, a chair which he filled until his removal to a similar one at Edinburgh in 1674. He died in that city in the following year. To him is also attributed a satirical tract, Great and New Art of weighing Vanity (1672). For an account of his works and discoveries, see Hutton's Philosophical and Mathematical Dictionary.—DAVID GREGORY, nephew of the above, was born at Aberdeen in 1661, and there received the early part of his education, which was completed at Edinburgh. In his twenty-third year he was appointed professor of Mathematics in the university of the latter city. In 1691, through the friendship of Newton and Flamsteed, he obtained the Savilian professorship of Astronomy at Oxford. He died at Maidenhead in 1708. Among his works may be mentioned Exercitatio Geometricæ de Dimensione Figurarum (1684); Catoptricæ et Dioptricæ Sphæricæ Elementa (1695); Astronomiæ Physicæ et Geometricæ Elementa (1702), an illustration and defence of Newton's system; and an edition of Euclid in Greek and Latin (1703). He also wrote a treatise on Practical Geometry (1745) and many memoirs in the Phil. Trans., vols. xviii.-xxv.—JOHN GREGORY, grandson of James, was born at Aberdeen, 3d June 1724, where he received his early education; afterwards he studied medicine at Edinburgh and Leyden. After filling the chair of Medicine at Aberdeen from 1755, he was appointed in 1766 professor of the Practice of Medicine in Edinburgh, where he died, 9th February 1773. Among his works are Elements of the Practice of Physic (1772) and A Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man with those of the Animal World (1765). In 1788 his works were collected in four vols. by Tytler (Lord Woodhouselee), who prefaced them by a life of the author.—His son, JAMES GREGORY, born at Aberdeen in 1753, became in 1776 professor of the Practice of Medicine at Edinburgh, and eventually a leading man in his profession. He died 2d April 1821. He was the author of Conspectus Medicinæ Theoreticæ and of two vols. of Philosophical and Literary Essays (1792).—This James's son, WILLIAM GREGORY, born 25th December 1803, professor of Chemistry at Glasgow (1837), in King's College, Aberdeen (1839), and at Edinburgh University (1844), is noticeable for his advocacy of Liebig's views in Great Britain. He died 24th April 1858. He wrote Outlines of Chemistry (1845), and translated (1855) Liebig's Principles of Agricultural Chemistry.—The stomachic and aperient known as Gregory's mixture was compounded by Dr James Gregory, and consists of rhubarb, magnesia, and ginger.