ANDERSON (Alexander)

, one of the brightest ornaments of the mathematical world, who flourished about 200 years ago. He was born at Aberdeen in Scotland, it would seem towards the latter part of the 16th century, as he was professor of mathematics at Paris in the early part of the 17th, where he published several ingenious works in geometry and algebra, both of his own, and of his friend Vieta's. Thus he published his “Supplementum Apollonii Redivivi; (of Ghetaldus) sive analysis problematis hactenus desiderati ad Apollonii Pergæi doctrinam weri neusewn, a Marino Ghetaldo Patritio Ragusino hujusque, non ita pridem restitutam. In qua exhibetur mechanice æqualitatum tertii gradus sive solidarum, in quibus magnitudo omnino data, æquatur homogeneæ sub altero tantum coëfficiente ignoto. Huic subnexa est variorum problematum practice.” Paris, 1612, in 4to.

“*aitiologia: Pro Zetetico Apolloniani problematis a se jam pridem edito in supplemento Apollonii Redivivi. Ad clarissimum & ornatissimum virum Marinum Ghetaldum Patritium Ragusinum. In qua ad ea quae obiter mihi perstrinxit Ghetaldus respondetur, & analytices clarius detegitur.” Paris, 1615, in 4to.

“Francisci Vietæ Fontenacensis de Aequationum Recognitione & Emendatione Tractatus duo.” Paris, 1615, in 4to; with a Dedication, Prefaee, and an Appendix, by Anderson.

And Vieta's Angulares Sectiones, with the Demonstrations by Anderson.

Alexander was cousin german to a Mr. David Anderson, of Finshaugh, a gentleman who also possessed a singular turn for mathematical and mechanical knowledge. This mathematical genius was hereditary in the family of the Andersons, and from them it seems to have been transmitted to their descendants of the name of Gregory in the same country: the daughter of the said David Anderson having been the mother of the celebrated mathematician James Gregory, and who herself first instructed her son James in the elements of the Mathematics, upon her observing in him, while yet a child, a strong propensity to those sciences.

The time either of the birth or death of our author Alexander, has not come to my knowledge.