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Edmund Gunter (1581 – 10 December 1626), was an English clergyman, mathematician, geometer and astronomer〔Guy O. Stenstrom (1967), "Surveying Ready Reference Manual", McGraw–Hill. p. 7〕 of Welsh descent. He is best remembered for his mathematical contributions which include the invention of the Gunter's chain, the Gunter's quadrant, and the Gunter's scale. In 1620, he invented the first successful analog device〔Trevor Homer (2012). "The Book Of Origins: The first of everything – from art to zoos". Hachette UK〕 which he developed to calculate logarithmic tangents.〔Eli Maor (2013). "Trigonometric Delights", Princeton University Press.〕 He was mentored in mathematics by Reverend Henry Briggs and eventually became a Gresham Professor of Astronomy, from 1619 until his death.〔 William E. Burns (2001), ''The Scientific Revolution: An Encyclopedia'', ABC-CLIO, p. 125〕 ==Biography== Gunter was born in Hertfordshire in 1581. He was educated at Westminster School, and in 1599 he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford. He took orders, became a preacher in 1614, and in 1615 proceeded to the degree of bachelor in divinity. He became rector of St. George's Church in Southwark.〔Christopher Baker (2002). "Absolutism and the Scientific Revolution, 1600–1720". Greenwood Publishing Group〕 Mathematics, particularly the relationship between mathematics and the real world, was the one overriding interest throughout his life. In 1619, Sir Henry Savile put up money to fund Oxford University's first two science faculties, the chairs of astronomy and geometry. Gunter applied to become professor of geometry but Savile was famous for distrusting clever people, and Gunter's behavior annoyed him intensely. As was his habit, Gunter arrived with his sector and quadrant, and began demonstrating how they could be used to calculate the position of stars or the distance of churches, until Savile could stand it no longer. "Doe you call this reading of Geometric?" he burst out. "This is mere showing of tricks, man!" and, according to a contemporary account, "dismissed him with scorne."〔("Who invented the calculus? – and other 17th century topics" ), Professor Robin Wilson, lecture transcript, Gresham College, 16/11/2005. Retrieved Nov 7, 2010.〕〔Linklater, Andro, ''Measuring America'', Penguin Books, 2003, p. 14〕 He was shortly thereafter championed by the far wealthier Earl of Bridgewater, who saw to it that on 6 March 1619 Gunter was appointed professor of astronomy in Gresham College, London. This post he held till his death. With Gunter's name are associated several useful inventions, descriptions of which are given in his treatises on the sector, cross-staff, bow, quadrant and other instruments. He contrived his sector about the year 1606, and wrote a description of it in Latin, but it was more than sixteen years afterwards before he allowed the book to appear in English. In 1620 he published his ''Canon triangulorum''.〔The site http://locomat.loria.fr contains a complete reconstruction of Gunter's book and table.〕 In 1624 Gunter published a collection of his mathematical works. It was entitled ''The description and use of sector, the cross-staffe, and other instruments for such as are studious of mathematical practise.'' One of the most remarkable things about this book is that it was written, and published, in English not Latin. "I am at the last contented that it should come forth in English," he wrote resignedly, "Not that I think it worthy either of my labour or the publique view, but to satisfy their importunity who not understand the Latin yet were at the charge to buy the instrument."〔 It was a manual not for cloistered university fellows but for sailors and surveyors in real world. There is reason to believe that Gunter was the first to discover (in 1622 or 1625) that the magnetic needle does not retain the same declination in the same place at all times. By desire of James I he published in 1624 ''The Description and Use of His Majesties Dials in Whitehall Garden'', the only one of his works which has not been reprinted. He coined the terms cosine and cotangent, and he suggested to Henry Briggs, his friend and colleague, the use of the arithmetical complement (see Briggs ''Arithmetica Logarithmica'', cap. xv.). His practical inventions are briefly noted below: 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Edmund Gunter」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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