Thomas Galloway FRS (26 February 17961 November 1851) was a 19th-century Scottish

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, structure, space, models, and change. History On ...

Life

He was born in

Symington, South Lanarkshire Symington is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, southwest of Biggar, east of Douglas and southeast of Carluke. Geographical features near Symington include Tinto Hill, the Coulter Hills and the River Clyde. A map by Pont in 1 ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. In 1812 he entered the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, where he distinguished himself in mathematics. In 1823 he was appointed one of the teachers of mathematics at the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infant ...

, and in 1833 he became an actuary of the Amicable Life Assurance Office, the oldest institution of that kind in London, where he remained until his death in 1851. Galloway was a voluminous, though, for the most part, anonymous writer. His most notable paper, "On the proper motion of the solar system", was published in the ''Philosophical Transactions'' of 1847. He contributed largely to the seventh edition of

Encyclopædia Britannica The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various t ...

, and also wrote several scientific papers for the ''Edinburgh Review'' and various scientific journals. His ''Encyclopaedia'' article, "Probability", was published separately. He is buried in

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick ...

, London.

Family

Galloway was married to Margaret Wallace (1809–1884), daughter of the mathematician

William Wallace Sir William Wallace ( gd, Uilleam Uallas, ; Norman French: ; 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army ...

. She is buried next to her father in

Greyfriars Kirkyard Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a num ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

Notes

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* * Scottish mathematicians 1796 births 1851 deaths Royal Medal winners 19th-century British mathematicians People from South Lanarkshire Fellows of the Royal Society Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery Academics of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst British actuaries 19th-century British businesspeople {{UK-mathematician-stub