Born into a Newcastle coal mining family, Charles Hutton (1737-1823) displayed mathematical ability from an early age. He rose to become professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy and foreign secretary of the Royal Society. First published in 1795-6, this two-volume illustrated encyclopaedia aimed to supplement the great generalist reference works of the Enlightenment by focusing on philosophical and mathematical subjects; the coverage ranges across mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy and engineering. Almost a century old, the last comparable reference work in English was John Harris' Lexicon Technicum. Hutton's work contains many historical and biographical entries, often with bibliographies, including many for continental analytical mathematicians who would have been relatively unfamiliar to British readers. These features make Hutton's Dictionary a particularly valuable record of eighteenth-century science and mathematics. Volume 1 ranges from abacist (a user of an abacus) to the English physician and Newtonian scientist James Jurin.

Born into a Newcastle coal mining family, Charles Hutton (1737-1823) displayed mathematical ability from an early age. He rose to become professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy and foreign secretary of the Royal Society. First published in 1795-6, this two-volume illustrated encyclopaedia aimed to supplement the great generalist reference works of the Enlightenment by focusing on philosophical and mathematical subjects; the coverage ranges across mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy and engineering. Almost a century old, the last comparable reference work in English was John Harris' Lexicon Technicum. Hutton's work contains many historical and biographical entries, often with bibliographies, including many for continental analytical mathematicians who would have been relatively unfamiliar to British readers. These features make Hutton's Dictionary a particularly valuable record of eighteenth-century science and mathematics. Volume 2 ranges from kalendar to zone. Among the other topics covered are knots, Newton, magnets, and the Moon.

Though raised in Newcastle's coal-mining community, Charles Hutton (1737-1823) went on to make his mark as a teacher and mathematician. A fellow of the Royal Society (and recipient of the Copley medal), he carried out research into the convergence of series, ballistics, and the density of the earth. After flooding destroyed several bridges across the Tyne in November 1771, he began to study the design of bridges, and published this mathematical treatment in 1772. It demonstrates the ideal properties of arches and piers, with due consideration given to the force of water flowing against these structures. Hutton's practical observations also enhance a section that provides definitions of relevant terms. Not merely a solution to the demands of transport and trade, a well-designed bridge, in Hutton's eyes, stands as a structure of elegance and beauty.

Prior to the advent of computers, no mathematician, physicist or engineer could do without a volume of tables of logarithmic and trigonometric functions. These tables made possible certain calculations which would otherwise be impossible. Unfortunately, carelessness and lazy plagiarism meant that the tables often contained serious errors. Those prepared by Charles Hutton (1737 1823) were notable for their reliability and remained the standard for a century. Hutton had risen, by mathematical ability, hard work and some luck, from humble beginnings to become a professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy. His mathematical work was distinguished by utility rather than originality, but his contributions to the teaching of the subject were substantial. This seventh edition was published in 1858 with additional material by Olinthus Gregory (1774 1841). The preliminary matter will be of interest to any modern-day reader who wishes to know how calculation was done before the electronic computer.