Recorde is considered the founder of the English school of mathematical writers, and was the first English writer on arithmetic, geometryand astronomy. Recorde was the first mathematician to introduce algebra in England. Most of his works were prevalent until the end of the 16th century, and some until the end of the 17th century. Many of his writings were in poetic form as an aid to students in remembering the rules of operation.
Recorde was the second son of Thomas Recorde, a second-generation Welshman, and Rose Johns of Montgomeryshire. He received a B.A. from Oxford University in 1531 and in the same year became a member of All Souls College--a chantry and graduate foundation for theology, civil and canon law, and medicine. He later moved to Cambridge, where he received his M.D. degree in 1545, and became physician to Edward VI and Queen Mary. Records indicate that Recorde had been licensed in medicine twelve years previously at Oxford. His university career and any other degrees are lost to history.
Physician/Author
Three physicians during this period contributed greatly to mathematics: Nicolas Chuquet, Girolamo Cardano and Recorde. Recorde was the most influential within his own country, as he established the English mathematical school. He wrote in the vernacular, which may have limited his effect on the Continent. Recorde's first existent mathematical work was the Grounde of Artes(1541), which was made popular for its use of the abacusand algorithmfor commercial use. Recorde's first edition dealt with only whole numbers with fundamental operations, progression , and counter reckoning. In 1552, the text was expanded to include fractions and alligation . He wrote The Pathway to Knowledge (1551), a translation of Euclid's first four volumes of Elements. The text separated construction from theorems, on the premise students need to understand at the onset, both what is being taught and why. His The Gate of Knowledgewas a text on measurement and use of the quadrant, but has been lost, and perhaps never published. Castle of Knowledge(1556) dealt with construction and use of the sphere. The text was a study of standard authorities, and offered corrections of errors he felt were caused by others' lack of knowledge of Greek.
Recorde is best known for his The Whetstone of Witte(1557), which contained the "second part of arithmetic" promised in The Ground of Artes, and contained elementary algebra through quadratic equations. The text contains his introduction of the sign "=" for equals, which he selected because nothing could be more equal than two parallel straight lines. In this text he also explained how the square root in algebra could be extracted.
Aside from his mathematical textbooks, he wrote The Urinal of Physick(1547), which was a short but systematic work which included figures and descriptions. The text was a complete assessment of urines, and contained nursing practices intended for the medical profession.
An Outstanding Scholar
Recorde was a skillful teacher, as well as an outstanding scholar of mid-16th century English. He was as familiar with Greek and medieval texts as he was with contemporary developments. Recorde emphasized learning Greek in order to understand other sources, and developed English equivalents for Latin and Greek terms to simplify his teachings. Recorde was not internationally known, mainly because his works were in English and on an elementary level, but his texts were the standard in Elizabethan England. While the majority of his time was spent in the mathematical sciences, Recorde was also highly skilled in rhetoric, philosophy, literature, history, cosmography (the science that studies the whole order of nature), and all areas of natural history.
Government Duties Lead to Trouble
Earlier in his career, Recorde served his government in other capacities. In 1549, he was appointed comptroller of the Bristol Mint. Trouble ensued when he refused to divert monies intended for King Edward to the armies under Lord John Russell and Sir William Herbert (later earl of Pembroke). Herbert accused him of treason and he was confined for 60 days, and the mints were forced to stop production. The incident lead to later career problems.
From 1551 to 1553, Recorde was surveyor of the mines in Ireland, in charge of the Wexford silver mines, and technical supervisor of the Dublin Mint. The mines were unprofitable and Recorde was recalled in 1553. In 1556, he tried to regain reinstatement at Court, but earlier he had charged malfeasance as commissioner of mints against Pembroke. Unfortunately, for him, Queen Mary and King Philip, sided with Pembroke, and Pembroke sued for libel with damages against Recorde. Recorde apparently was unable to pay the sum and was imprisoned at King's Bench prison, where he penned his will, leaving a little money to his relatives, and died in prison. Not until 1570 was his estate compensated for monies due him when he was recalled as surveyor of mines in 1553.
Recorde had five daughters and four sons. He was also an active supporter of the Protestant Reformation.
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