Cayley, Arthur, 1821-1895

Arthur Cayley was one of the preeminent British mathematicians of the 19th century. In 1863 he was appointed the Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics at Cambridge, a position he held until his death at the age of 73.

From the description of A memoir on the quintic equation / by Prof. Cayley. [1894 or 1895] (Lehigh University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 226025432

Epithet: of Gisburgh, county Yorkshire

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001196.0x00007e

Arthur Cayley, English mathematician, was born at Richmond, in Surrey, on the 16 August 1821, the second son of Henry Cayley, a Russian merchant, and Maria Antonia Doughty. His father, Henry Cayley, retired from business in 1829 and settled in Blackileath, where Arthur was sent to a private school kept by the Rev. G. B. F. Potticary; at the age of fourteen he was transferred to Kings College School, London. He soon showed that he was a boy of great capacity, and in particular that he was possessed of remarkable mathematical ability. On the advice of the school authorities he was entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, as a pensioner. He was there coached by William Hopkins of Peterhouse, was admitted a scholar of the college in May 1840, and graduated as senior wrangler in 1842, and obtained the first Smiths Prize at the next examination. In 1842, also, he was elected a fellow of Trinity, and became a major fellow in 1845, the year in which he proceeded to the M.A. degree. He was assistant tutor of Trinity for three years. In 1846, having decided to adopt the law as a profession, he left Cambridge, entered at Lincoln's Inn, and became a pupil of the conveyancer Mr Christie. He was called to the bar in 1849, and remained at the bar fourteen years, till 1863, when he was elected to the new Sadlerian professorship of pure mathematics at Cambridge University. He settled at Cambridge in the same year, and married Susan, daughter of Robert Moline of Greenwich. He continued to reside in Cambridge and to hold the professorship till his death on the 26 January 1895.

From the guide to the Cayley, Arthur, 1891, (Senate House Library, University of London)

Mathematician. Fellow of the Royal Society.

From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84865351

Arthur Cayley was one of the preeminent British mathematicians of the 19th century. In 1863 he was appointed the Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics at Cambridge, a position he held until his death at the age of 73.

Robert Harley was a Congregational minister who was also well known for his important contributions to mathematics and symbolic logic.

From the description of Arthur Cayley letters to Robert Harley, 1859-1863. (Lehigh University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 226026106