Peter Barlow ( 1776 - 1862 )

Birth: Norwich, Norfolk, England (October 1776) Death: 01 March 1862 Research Field: Mathematics, physics; optics Career: School teacher; knew Charles Hutton (FRS 1774); Assistant and then Mathematical Master, Royal Military Academy Woolwich (1801 - 1847); published "An Elementary Investigation of the Theory of Numbers" (1811), "A New Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary" (1814),"New Mathematical Tables" also known as Barlow's Tables in 1814 and "Essay on the Strength of Timber and other Materials" (1817); devised a method for remedying the effect of iron on compasses in iron ships; worked on magnetism and electromagnetism (1823-1833); developed achromatic lenses and worked with Dolland; worked on steam locomotion - sat on railway commissions in 1836, 1839, 1842 and 1845.