Benjamin Peirce
| Benjamin Peirce | |
|---|---|
Benjamin Peirce
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| Born |
4 April 1809 Salem, Massachusetts |
| Died | 6 October 1880 (aged 71) Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Fields | Mathematics Statistics Science policy |
| Institutions |
Harvard University Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Academic advisors | Nathaniel Bowditch |
| Notable students | Joseph Lovering |
| Known for |
Peirce's criterion for outliers (statistics) Definition of mathematics as the science of necessary truths linear algebras celestial mechanics |
| Influenced | Charles Sanders Peirce |
Benjamin Peirce (/ˈpɜːrs/; April 4, 1809 – October 6, 1880) was an American mathematician who taught at Harvard University for approximately 50 years. He made contributions to celestial mechanics, statistics, number theory, algebra, and the philosophy of mathematics.
He was the son of Benjamin Peirce (1778–1831), later librarian of Harvard, and Lydia Ropes Nichols Peirce (1781–1868).
After graduating from Harvard, he remained as a tutor (1829), and was subsequently appointed professor of mathematics in 1831. He added astronomy to his portfolio in 1842, and remained as Harvard professor until his death. In addition, he was instrumental in the development of Harvard's science curriculum, served as the college librarian, and was director of the U.S. Coast Survey from 1867 to 1874.
Benjamin Peirce is often regarded as the earliest American scientist whose research was recognized as world class. He was an apologist for slavery, opining that it should be condoned if it was used to allow an elite to pursue scientific enquiry.
In number theory, he proved there is no odd perfect number with fewer than four prime factors.
In algebra, he was notable for the study of associative algebras. He first introduced the terms idempotent and nilpotent in 1870 to describe elements of these algebras, and he also introduced the Peirce decomposition.
In the philosophy of mathematics, he became known for the statement that "Mathematics is the science that draws necessary conclusions". Peirce's definition of mathematics was credited by his son, Charles Sanders Peirce, as helping to initiate the consequence-oriented philosophy of pragmatism.
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