Charles Jasper Joly FRS FRAS MRIA (27 June 1864 – 4 January 1906) was an Irish

mathematician A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, mathematical structure, structure, space, Mathematica ...

and

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

who was Andrews Professor of Astronomy from 1897 until his death in 1906. He was an important figure in the study of quaternions.

Early life

Joly was born at St Catherine's Rectory, Hop Hill, Tullamore,

County Offaly County Offaly (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is named after the Ancient Ireland, ancient Kingdom of Uí ...

, the eldest of six children of Rev. John Swift Joly (1818-1887) and Elizabeth Slator (1835-1904). He was a second cousin to John Joly. He was educated at Galway Grammar School. In 1882, he was enrolled at

Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...

on a mathematical scholarship and graduated with first place in mathematics in 1886. Winning a studentship and following his great interest in experimental physics, he moved to

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

to work in Helmholtz’s laboratory.

Career

In 1897, Joly was appointed Andrews Professor of Astronomy at

. Although there was some dispute as to his suitability, his mathematical skill was recognised, particularly his work on the mathematics of William Rowan Hamilton. Over the next five years, he wrote numerous mathematical papers, particularly on the applicability of the theory of quaternions to several areas of mathematics: theory of strain, spherical harmonics,

hydrodynamics In physics, physical chemistry and engineering, fluid dynamics is a subdiscipline of fluid mechanics that describes the flow of fluids – liquids and gases. It has several subdisciplines, including (the study of air and other gases in ...

and

electromagnetism In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interacti ...

. In 1900, he went on the RIA/RDS eclipse expedition to Spain and later took part in the British Association visit to South Africa in 1905. In 1902, he became Secretary of the

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the natural sciences, arts, literature, and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned society and one of its le ...

Personal life

On 20 March 1897, Joly married Jessie Sophie Meade. They had three daughters. A keen member of the Alpine Club, he spent his holidays in the

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

, scaling the most difficult peaks. He was especially fond of rock climbing.

Awards and honours

*1895: Elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy. *1898: Elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. *1904: Elected a

fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

Death

Shortly after his return from South Africa, he and his daughter contracted

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a disease caused by ''Salmonella enterica'' serotype Typhi bacteria, also called ''Salmonella'' Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often ther ...

. He died on 4 January 1906. His daughter survived. He was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin.

Publications

* William Rowan Hamilton and C.J. Joly: Elements of Quaternions (volume I, 1899) Longmans, Green & Co, (volume II, 1901)
Quaternions and Projective Geometry
(1903) ''

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ''Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'' is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society. In its earliest days, it was a private venture of the Royal Society's secretary. It was established in 1665, making it the second journ ...

'' 201:223–327
''A Manual of Quaternions''
(1905) from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

Historical Math Monographs Charles Joly published his articles in

journals, generally the ''Transactions'', but as indicated below, in '' Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy'' in 1897, 98, and 99: * 1892: Theory of linear vector functions. 30:597 to 647 * 1896: Properties of general congruency of curves. 31:363 to 92 * 1897: On the homographic divisions of planes, spheres, and space and on the systems of lines joining corresponding points. '' Proceedings RIA'' 4(4): 515 * 1898: The associative algebra applicable to hyperspace. ''Proceedings R.I.A.'' 5(1):73 to 123 * 1899: Astaties and quaternion functions. ''Proceedings R.I.A.'' 5(3):366 * 1902: Interpretation of a quaternion as a point symbol. 32A: 1 to 16 * 1902: Quaternion arrays. 32:17 to 30 * 1902: Quadratic screw system: a study of a family of quadratic complexes. 32A:155 to 238 * 1902: Geometry of a three-system of screws. 32A:239 to 70

References

Sources

* G. B. Mathews (1907) "C. J. Joly", '' Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society'' vols 2–4, issue 1, p. 1.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Joly, Charles Jasper 1864 births 1906 deaths 19th-century Irish mathematicians 20th-century Irish mathematicians Academics of Trinity College Dublin Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Directors of Dunsink Observatory Fellows of the Royal Society People from Tullamore, County Offaly Scientists from County Offaly 19th-century Irish astronomers 20th-century Irish astronomers