Robert Recorde

Welsh physician and mathematician

Robert Recorde (c. 1512 – 1558) was a Welsh physician and mathematician who is best known for introducing the equals sign (=) in mathematics. He was a prominent figure in the development of mathematical education in the Tudor period and made significant contributions to the field through his writings and teachings.

Early Life and Education

Robert Recorde was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, around 1512. He was educated at the University of Oxford, where he became a fellow of All Souls College. Later, he moved to the University of Cambridge to study medicine, earning his degree in 1545.

Career

Recorde's career was marked by his dual interests in medicine and mathematics. He served as a physician to both Edward VI and Mary I. Despite his medical career, Recorde is most celebrated for his contributions to mathematics.

Mathematical Works

Recorde wrote several influential books on mathematics, which were among the first to be published in the English language. His works were designed to make mathematics more accessible to the general public.

• The Grounde of Artes (1543) was his first book, focusing on arithmetic and aimed at beginners.
• The Pathway to Knowledge (1551) introduced the principles of geometry.
• The Castle of Knowledge (1556) dealt with astronomy and was based on the Ptolemaic system.

The Whetstone of Witte

The Whetstone of Witte, introducing the equals sign

In 1557, Recorde published The Whetstone of Witte, a book on algebra. It is in this work that he introduced the equals sign, explaining that "no two things can be more equal." The symbol was chosen because "noe 2 thynges can be moare equalle." This innovation was a significant advancement in mathematical notation.

The first recorded use of the equals sign in an equation

Later Life and Death

Recorde's later years were troubled by financial difficulties. He was involved in a legal dispute with William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, which led to his imprisonment for debt. Robert Recorde died in the King's Bench Prison in Southwark, London, in 1558.

Legacy

Robert Recorde's introduction of the equals sign was a pivotal moment in the history of mathematics, simplifying the expression of equations and calculations. His works laid the foundation for future developments in mathematical education and notation.

Related Pages

• History of mathematics
• Mathematical notation
• Tudor period

Memorial to Robert Recorde in St Mary, Tenby