Nicholas Saunderson: A Treatise of Fluxions

Nicholas Saunderson or Sanderson (1682-1739), mathematician, was born in January 1682 at Thurlston, near Peniston, Yorkshire. He lost his eyes when twelve months old as the result of an attack of smallpox. He attended Peniston school, where he learnt classics and developed a knowledge of French, Latin and Greek. Thereafter he studied mathematics at home, before moving to Cambridge in 1707, where he resided at Christ's College with Joshua Dunn, a fellow-commoner. Saunderson gave lectures at Cambridge on the philosophy of Newton, astronomy, hydrostatics, mechanics, optics, sounds, and the tides. He was granted an M.A. by special patent in 1711, and that year became Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He was created doctor of laws in 1728. Saunderson died on 19 April 1739. Algebra (Cambridge University Press, 1740) and his other mathematical writings were published after his death.

fo. 5: shorthand note in pencil; fo. 5v: diagram; fo. 1: 'John Hall, Bought Clerk's Sale 1833.'

Text written on every other leaf, alternate leaves either carrying diagrams or left blank. Printed as pp. vii-128 of Saunderson's Method of Fluxions, London, 1756.

Purchased by John Hall, 1833. Purchased by Library from Tregaskis, 1897.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Nicholas Saunderson: A Treatise of Fluxions, MS Add.3444