James Gregory (1638–1675)*

Abstract

IN the early seventeenth century, two brothers, Alexander and David Anderson of Aberdeen, rose to mathematical distinction. Alexander, who went to Paris as professor of mathematics, became the friend and expositor of Vieta, while David, commonly called 'Davie-do-a'-thing', became the Archimedes of Aberdeen, constructed the spire of St. Nicholas Church, and removed 'Knock Mait land', a dangerous submerged rock, from the harbour by harnessing it to the tide. His daughter Janet married the Rev. John Gregory, of Drumoak on Deeside, twelve miles from Aberdeen, and thereafter for two hundred years their descendants occupied the chairs of either mathematics, medicine or philosophy in an unbroken sequence at Scottish universities, always with vitality and distinction.