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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your help to identify this guy

24 replies

WhitePhantom · 16/06/2019 00:16

This is cracking me up - long shot that you can help based on so little info but might as well ask!

I remember reading about a brilliant mathematician whose father was a carpenter (I think - some kind of trade anyway). He loved maths, studied it all the time, taught himself all sorts of maths and went on to do great things.

That's it! I can't remember any more. Like I said, very long shot, but if you know who I'm talking about please tell me!! 😊

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 16/06/2019 00:19

John Nash?

Processedpea · 16/06/2019 00:22

Feynman ?

FlightOfTheCat · 16/06/2019 00:23

Srinivasa Ramanujan? (I don’t think he matches the description of the father though...)

GlitterPixie · 16/06/2019 00:23

Is he alive now?

ILoveEurovision · 16/06/2019 00:30

James Watt's father was a carpenter.

Original poster
WhitePhantom · 16/06/2019 00:32

None of those, but thanks anyway I don't know if he's still alive - I don't think so. I think it's someone from years ago.

God this is killing me! I was fascinated with the story, and now can't even remember who it was about 😭

OP posts:
FlightOfTheCat · 16/06/2019 00:33

Oliver Heaviside’s father was a wood engraver.

mokapot · 16/06/2019 00:36

George boon?

mokapot · 16/06/2019 00:37

Sorry George boole

thisismeusernameything · 16/06/2019 00:37

Carl gauss

WomanLikeMeLM · 16/06/2019 00:38

Albert Edward Ingham, his father was indeed a craftsman.

Dudee · 16/06/2019 00:39

Thomas Tate.

ILoveEurovision · 16/06/2019 00:42

John Crank? Thomas Wright? John Harrison? Sir John Leslie? They all seem to have carpenter fathers.

I'm assuming this isn't a joke where the answer is Jesus of course!

sergeilavrov · 16/06/2019 00:42

I think you might mean George Boole? I love his thesis on logic and mathematics. Laws of Thought is one of the best things mankind has produced. Grin

SummerWhisper · 16/06/2019 00:55

Gauss?

mummmy2017 · 16/06/2019 00:57

Johnny Ball

TressiliansStone · 16/06/2019 01:10

Try the MacTutor History of Mathematics archive (which is a very fine thing).

www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk

Putting "carpenter" in search gives quite a list of names.

TressiliansStone · 16/06/2019 01:15

In fact, William Whewell leaps out of that list.

www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Whewell.html

He coined a lot of the words we use today – including "scientist". Previously, what we'd call "science" was known as "natural philosophy".

SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman · 16/06/2019 01:22

Surely you're joking, Processedpea? I don't think it's me...

S1naidSucks · 16/06/2019 01:38

trying to work out if Jesus was good at maths 😉

Sorry, I’ll get my coat.

redredrobins · 16/06/2019 02:19

Jesus wasn't good at maths, he made 5+2= much more than 7 (fish and loaves).
Sorry Wink

S1naidSucks · 16/06/2019 02:20

redredrobins Grin

dustarr73 · 16/06/2019 02:35

Jesus wasn't good at maths, he made 5+2= much more than 7 (fish and loaves).

Who cares,he made water in to wine.GrinMuch handier and a better skill

Original poster
WhitePhantom · 16/06/2019 12:45

Oh my god @Mokapot - it's George Boole!! Thank you so much! And thanks everyone else who gave me names 😊

I love the Jesus idea 😅 but no, he wasn't much good at maths, was he?!

OP posts:
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