Henry Atkinson (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Henry Atkinson was a British
mathematician
and astronomer
whose interests extended to economics, engineering, and philosophy. Born in West Harle, Northumberland
, Atkinson was the son of a schoolmaster who allowed him to take over the teaching at Bavington
School when he was only thirteen. Atkinson subsequently taught at schools in the Northumberland villages of Belsay
, Woodburn
, and Stamfordham
. In 1808, he finally moved to Newcastle upon Tyne
, where he continued to teach and began to establish a reputation as a scholar.
Atkinson presented papers to the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society
, which he joined in 1809. Among his these were:
Atkinson also published papers in the journal of the Astronomical Society of London
.
He encountered significant barriers to advancement of his academic career due to his dissenting religious views. He was a leader in the Newcastle Unitarian
church and was closely affiliated with its controversial minister, William Turner
. Atkinson is buried in St Andrew's churchyard at Newcastle
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mathematician
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....
and astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
whose interests extended to economics, engineering, and philosophy. Born in West Harle, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, Atkinson was the son of a schoolmaster who allowed him to take over the teaching at Bavington
Bavington
Bavington is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 99. The village is north of Hexham, and about the same west from Morpeth.- Governance :...
School when he was only thirteen. Atkinson subsequently taught at schools in the Northumberland villages of Belsay
Belsay
Belsay is a village in Northumberland, England. It is situated about to the north-west of Ponteland on the A696 which links the village with Newcastle upon Tyne and Jedburgh....
, Woodburn
West Woodburn
West Woodburn is a village in north-western Northumberland, England.The 2001 census recorded a population of 492 in the Parish Council area of Corsenside of which West Woodburn is the main settlement....
, and Stamfordham
Stamfordham
Stamfordham is a village in Northumberland. It is located about 5 miles to the west of Ponteland and 10 miles to the east of Hexham-External links:**...
. In 1808, he finally moved to Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, where he continued to teach and began to establish a reputation as a scholar.
Atkinson presented papers to the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society
Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society
The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle Upon Tyne is a historical library in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and the largest independent library outside London...
, which he joined in 1809. Among his these were:
- A new method of extracting the roots of equations of the higher orders (1809)
- An essay on proportion (1811)
- On the difference between the followers of Newton and Leibniz concerning the measure of forces (1814)
- The eclipses of Jupiter's satellites and on the mode of determining the longitude by these means (1810)
- The possibility and … consequences of the lunar origin of meteoric stones (1815)
Atkinson also published papers in the journal of the Astronomical Society of London
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
.
He encountered significant barriers to advancement of his academic career due to his dissenting religious views. He was a leader in the Newcastle Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
church and was closely affiliated with its controversial minister, William Turner
William Turner (Unitarian minister)
William Turner was a Unitarian minister and educator who advanced the anti-slavery movement in Northern England, contributed to the development of intellectual institutions in Newcastle upon Tyne, and published sermons on a variety of topics.-Life:...
. Atkinson is buried in St Andrew's churchyard at Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.