Diagram on gunnery
Date
July 1685
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p6
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 235mm
width (page): 352mm
width (page): 352mm
Subject
Description
George Tollet's diagram for demonstrating a general rule for gunnery first suggested by Edmond Halley. Halley showed figures illustrating his rule of gunnery to William Molyneux when they met in London. This was given to George Tollet (d. 1719) by Molyneux's father, Captain Samuel Molyneux. Tollet was a self-taught teacher of mathematics in Dublin and one of the earliest members of the Dublin Philosophical Society.
Tollet wrote to Charles Willoughby on 4 July 1685 and mentioned that he had worked out a general rule using a different construction. This was read to the Dublin Philosophical Society on 6 July 1685, and then sent by St George Ashe to Francis Aston in a letter dated 4 July 1685. It was read to the Royal Society at its meeting on 22 July 1685. (See Papers of the Dublin Philosophical Society, ed. by K. Theodore Hoppen, 2 vols (Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 2008), I, 458n).
This figure is the same as the one earlier at Cl.P/1/20/004, which is copied in LBO/10/180a and LBC/10/224a.
Tollet wrote to Charles Willoughby on 4 July 1685 and mentioned that he had worked out a general rule using a different construction. This was read to the Dublin Philosophical Society on 6 July 1685, and then sent by St George Ashe to Francis Aston in a letter dated 4 July 1685. It was read to the Royal Society at its meeting on 22 July 1685. (See Papers of the Dublin Philosophical Society, ed. by K. Theodore Hoppen, 2 vols (Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 2008), I, 458n).
This figure is the same as the one earlier at Cl.P/1/20/004, which is copied in LBO/10/180a and LBC/10/224a.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 22 July 1685, ‘ There were read some papers communicated by the Dublin Society; [...] The rest of the papers being a problem about gunnery sent by Mr. Halley to Mr. William Molyneux, and two problems of Mr. Tolet relating to the same subject, and requiring calculation, were referred to Mr. Cluverus to examine, and make a report at the next meeting, when they should be farther considered of’ (Birch 4:421-22). See also 29 July 1685 (Birch 4:422-23), which does not specifically mention Tollet's demonstration on gunnery.
At the meeting on 18 November 1685, the minutes of the Dublin Society between 6 July and 10 August 1685 were read, which included the item, ‘July 6, 1685. Mr. Tolet brought in a proposition in gunnery, sent from Mr. Edward Halley, with its construction and rule, but without a demonstration. He shewed the construction to hold true in all cases, but deduced another rule from thence’ (Birch 4:431).
At the meeting on 18 November 1685, the minutes of the Dublin Society between 6 July and 10 August 1685 were read, which included the item, ‘July 6, 1685. Mr. Tolet brought in a proposition in gunnery, sent from Mr. Edward Halley, with its construction and rule, but without a demonstration. He shewed the construction to hold true in all cases, but deduced another rule from thence’ (Birch 4:431).
Related fellows
George Tollet (1679 - 1714, British) , Mathematician
Edmond Halley (1656 - 1742, British) , Astronomer
William Molyneux (1656 - 1698, British) , Science writer
Edmond Halley (1656 - 1742, British) , Astronomer
William Molyneux (1656 - 1698, British) , Science writer
Associated place