William Rowan Hamilton

Sir
William Rowan Hamilton
FRAS
Sir William Rowan Hamilton FRAS
Born	4 August 1805; Dublin, Ireland, UKGBI
Died	2 September 1865 (aged 60); Dublin, Ireland, UKGBI
Resting place	Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin ; (B.A., 1827; M.A., 1837)
Known for	Hamiltonian mechanics (1833); Hamilton's principle (1834); Describing quaternions (1843); Coining the term tensor (1846); Discovering icosian calculus (1856); Inventing the icosian game (1856);
Title	Andrews Professor of Astronomy (1827–1865)
Predecessor	John Brinkley
Successor	Franz Brünnow
Spouse	Helen Marie Bayly (m. 1833)
Children	3, including William
Relatives	Eliza Mary Hamilton (sister)
Awards	Cunningham Medal (1834, 1848); Royal Medal (1835);
Honours	Knight Bachelor (1835)
	Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics; physics; astronomy;
Institutions	Trinity College Dublin ; (1827–1865) Dunsink Observatory; ;
Academic advisors	John Brinkley

Sir William Rowan Hamilton (4 August 1805 – 2 September 1865)^[1]^[2] was an Irish mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who made numerous major contributions to abstract algebra, classical mechanics, and optics. His theoretical works and mathematical equations are considered fundamental to modern theoretical physics, particularly his reformulation of Lagrangian mechanics. His career included the analysis of geometrical optics, Fourier analysis, and quaternions, the last of which made him one of the founders of modern linear algebra.^[3]

Hamilton was Andrews Professor of Astronomy at Trinity College Dublin. He was also the third director of Dunsink Observatory from 1827 to 1865. The Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University is named after him. He received the Cunningham Medal twice, in 1834 and 1848, and the Royal Medal in 1835.

He remains arguably the most influential Irish physicist, along with Ernest Walton. Since his death, Hamilton has been commemorated throughout the country, with several institutions, streets, monuments and stamps bearing his name.

^ Hamilton was born at midnight. In his younger years, his birthday was celebrated on 3 August, but after the birth of his second son on 4 August 1835 he changed it to 4 August.
^ Graves (1882) Vol. I, p. 1
^ Cite error: The named reference ODNB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Hamilton was born at midnight. In his younger years, his birthday was celebrated on 3 August, but after the birth of his second son on 4 August 1835 he changed it to 4 August.

[2] Graves (1882) Vol. I, p. 1

[ODNB-3] Cite error: The named reference ODNB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1]

[2]

[3]

Sir William Rowan Hamilton FRAS

Born	(1805-08-04)4 August 1805 Dublin, Ireland, UKGBI
Died	2 September 1865(1865-09-02) (aged 60) Dublin, Ireland, UKGBI
Resting place	Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin (B.A., 1827; M.A., 1837)
Known for	Hamiltonian mechanics (1833) Hamilton's principle (1834) Describing quaternions (1843) Coining the term tensor (1846) Discovering icosian calculus (1856) Inventing the icosian game (1856)
Title	Andrews Professor of Astronomy (1827–1865)
Predecessor	John Brinkley
Successor	Franz Brünnow
Spouse	Helen Marie Bayly (m. 1833)
Children	3, including William
Relatives	Eliza Mary Hamilton (sister)
Awards	Cunningham Medal (1834, 1848) Royal Medal (1835)
Honours	Knight Bachelor (1835)
Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics physics astronomy
Institutions	Trinity College Dublin (1827–1865) Dunsink Observatory
Academic advisors	John Brinkley

William Rowan Hamilton

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