Philippe De Wilde

The MacLaurin Papers

Home For Researchers For Business For Students For Kids and Non-scientists The MacLaurin Papers Publications Contact: p.de_wilde@hw.ac.uk School of MACS Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh EH14 5AZ UK 0131 451 8306 secretary: 0131 451 4152

Colin MacLaurin was a Scottish mathematician who lived from 1698 to 1746. The mathematics building of the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt is named after Colin MacLaurin. When I became Head of School, I found a treasure trove of original documents by MacLaurin. A Treatise of Fluxions, Edinburgh, 1742. This shows the celebrated MacLaurin formula for approximating functions, with a reference to Taylor. Look at the figures, and see how geometric the reasoning is. Analysis was very geometric in the time of Newton and MacLaurin. An Account of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophical Discoveries, London, 1748. This was published shortly after MacLaurin died, and contains an extensive biography by a contemporary. Note the remarks on religion at the end of the text. Letters from MacLaurin, 1743. These show his role in the start of life insurance. Note his advice to scientists: Reading chosen Books, Conversing with well chosen Acquaintances about what you read, Solitary & retired thought, & sometimes writing.