John Henry Pratt
Encyclopedia
John Henry Pratt was a British clergyman and mathematician
who devised a theory of crustal balance which would become the basis for the isostasy
principle.
, of Josiah Pratt
. He graduated B.A. from Caius College, Cambridge, as third wrangler
in 1833, was elected to a fellowship there, and proceeded M.A. in 1836.
He was appointed a chaplain of the East India Company
, through the influence of Bishop Daniel Wilson
, in 1838. He became Wilson's domestic chaplain, and was in 1850 appointed archdeacon of Calcutta. He died at He died in Ghazipur
, India, on 28 December 1871. At the instance of Bishop Milman, a memorial to Pratt was erected in Calcutta Cathedral.
He also published a small work entitled ‘Scripture and Science not at Variance’ (1856), which went through numerous editions; and, in 1865, edited from his father's manuscript ‘Eclectic Notes, or Notes of Discussion on Religious Topics at the Meetings of the Eclectic Society, London, during the years 1798–1814 (see Eclectic Society (Christian)
).
Attribution
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who devised a theory of crustal balance which would become the basis for the isostasy
Isostasy
Isostasy is a term used in geology to refer to the state of gravitational equilibrium between the earth's lithosphere and asthenosphere such that the tectonic plates "float" at an elevation which depends on their thickness and density. This concept is invoked to explain how different topographic...
principle.
Life
He was the second son, born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, of Josiah Pratt
Josiah Pratt
Josiah Pratt was an English evangelical clergyman, involved in publications and the administration of missionary work.-Life:The second son of Josiah Pratt, a Birmingham manufacturer, he was born in Birmingham on 21 December 1768. With his two younger brothers, Isaac and Henry, Josiah was educated...
. He graduated B.A. from Caius College, Cambridge, as third wrangler
Wrangler
At the University of Cambridge in England, a 'Wrangler' is a student who gains first-class honours in the third year of the University's undergraduate degree in mathematics. The highest-scoring student is the Senior Wrangler, the second highest is the Second Wrangler, and so on...
in 1833, was elected to a fellowship there, and proceeded M.A. in 1836.
He was appointed a chaplain of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, through the influence of Bishop Daniel Wilson
Daniel Wilson
Daniel or Dan Wilson may refer to:* Daniel Wilson , British-Canadian archaeologist, ethnologist and author* Daniel Wilson , Bishop of Calcutta...
, in 1838. He became Wilson's domestic chaplain, and was in 1850 appointed archdeacon of Calcutta. He died at He died in Ghazipur
Ghazipur
Ghazipur , or Ghazipur City, previously spelt Ghazeepore, is a city/town and a municipal corporation and headquarter of Ghazipur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghazipur Division and Sub-division...
, India, on 28 December 1871. At the instance of Bishop Milman, a memorial to Pratt was erected in Calcutta Cathedral.
Works
Pratt was the author of ‘Mathematical Principles of Mechanical Philosophy’ (1836), subsequently expanded and renamed ‘On Attractions, Laplace's Functions and the Figure of the Earth’ (1860, 1861, and 1865). This work, known as Pratt's Mechanical Philosophy, had full title: The Mathematical Principles of Mechanical Philosophy and their application to Elementary Mechanics and Architecture, but chiefly to The Theory of Universal Gravitation, a textbook of some 600 pages. While serving as archdeacon, Pratt arrived at his theory of crustal balance, based on a survey of India.He also published a small work entitled ‘Scripture and Science not at Variance’ (1856), which went through numerous editions; and, in 1865, edited from his father's manuscript ‘Eclectic Notes, or Notes of Discussion on Religious Topics at the Meetings of the Eclectic Society, London, during the years 1798–1814 (see Eclectic Society (Christian)
Eclectic Society (Christian)
The Eclectic Society was founded in 1783 by a number of Anglican clergymen and laymen as a discussion group, and was instrumental in the founding of the Church Missionary Society in 1799.-Origins:...
).
External links
- Extracts from the Royal Society of London
- The Mathematical Principles of Mechanical Philosophy by John Henry Pratt M.A. (Google Books)
Attribution