Scientific Centenaries in 1949

Abstract

SIDE by side in the choir of the chapel of Merton College, Oxford, are the graves of Dr. John Bainbridge (1582-1643), the first Savilian professor of astronomy, and Henry Briggs (1561-1631), the first Savilian professor of geometry, while close at hand is the monument to Sir Henry Savile, the founder of the chairs, who was born four hundred years ago next November and who died at Eton College on February 19, 1621. Born near Halifax, Yorkshire, Savile matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, became learned in science and the classics, travelled abroad, was reader in Greek to Queen Elizabeth, from 1585 was warden of Merton College, and from 1596 also provost of Eton. He was knighted by James I in 1604 and in that year had the misfortune to lose his only son. Among his closest friends was Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613), founder of the Bodleian Library. Savile published some fine editions of Greek works, and in 1619 devoted a part of his fortune to the establishment of the two famous chairs "open to mathematicians from any part of Christendom". Savile himself acted for a short time as professor of geometry, but then relinquished the chair to Briggs, who had been professor of geometry in Gresham College, London, since its foundation in 1596. When the news of Savile‘s death reached Oxford, the "Vice-Chancellor and the Doctors ordered a speech to be publicly made in Honour of him ; which was done by Mr. Thomas Gosse, of Christ Church, and shortly afterwards published. ..."