INTRODUCTION:

 

James Thomson was born on November 13, 1786 , was the fourth son of James Thomson , a small farmer in Annaghmore , near Ballynahinch , County Down (the house was later called Spamount , by his wife , Agnes Nesbit ) . His early education was alert his father . At the age of eleven or twelve Thomson discovered for himself the art of dialing. His father sent him to a school in Ballykine , near Ballynahinch , maintained by Samuel Edgar , the father of John Edgar . Here Thomson soon became an assistant .
Desiring to become a minister of the Presbyterian Church , in 1810 entered the University of Glasgow, where he studied for several sessions , supporting , teaching in the school during the summer Ballykine MA graduated two years later. In 1814 he was appointed to teach arithmetic , geography in the Accounting Department at University of Belfast Academical Institution , and in 1815 he became professor of mathematics there. Here he proved himself as a teacher . In 1829 , the honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred by the University of Glasgow, where , in 1832 , was appointed professor of mathematics . Held that position until his death on January 12, 1849 .

 

DEVELOPMENT:

 

He was a notable Irish mathematician for his role in the formation of thermodynamics school of the University of Glasgow. He was the father of the engineer and physicist James Thomson and physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. Thomson recently widowed took his two sons James (1822-1892) and William (1824-1907) to Glasgow in 1832, two years after his appointment to the chair of mathematics. He was active in university policy, the principles of defending the abolition of religious tests and supporting the cause of those who held the Regius Chair in their struggle for equality with university professors. He wrote several books on Mathematics great success, including his Elementary Treatise on Algebra, Theoretical and Practical (1844) was particularly popular.
The children of Thomson went on to an academic career in the University: William became Professor of Natural Philosophy in 1846 and James Professor of Civil Engineering, 1872.

 

CONCLUDING REMARKS:

 

In his academic career as a mathematician Thomson made ​​a large contribution to several major works in the field of mathematics especially in arithmetic, trigonometry and calculus, he is recognized as a writer of textbooks. While in Belfast, he published a treatise on Arithmetic in Theory and Practice (1819), Trigonometry, Plane and Spherical (1820), Introduction to Modern Geography (1827), and The Differential and Integral Calculus (1831). Later, he edited a version of Euclid's Elements (1834) and wrote his most famous text Understanding Treatise on Algebra Theory and Practice (1844).

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thomson_(mathematician)

http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH2099&type=P