John Griffiths (1837 – May 1916) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

mathematician and academic associated with

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship St ...

, for nearly 60 years.

Biography

Griffiths was born in

Llangyndeyrn Llangyndeyrn () is a village, Community (Wales), community and electoral ward in the River Gwendraeth river valley, valley, Carmarthenshire, in Dyfed region of West Wales, United Kingdom. The village name is often spelt as Llangendeirne. The W ...

near

Kidwelly Kidwelly ( cy, Cydweli) is a town and community in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales, approximately northwest of the most populous town in the county, Llanelli. In the 2001 census the community of Kidwelly returned a population of 3,289, inc ...

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...

, Wales, and educated at

Cowbridge Grammar School Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by Cowbridge Comprehensive School. Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had c ...

. He

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...

at Jesus College in 1857 with a scholarship, and obtained a first-class degree in mathematics, winning the Junior and Senior Mathematical Scholarships. In 1863, he was elected as

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

and Tutor in Mathematics at Jesus College. Griffiths held his fellowship until his death in May 1916, by which time he had become the longest-serving fellow. He also served as the college's bursar for a time. Griffiths was particularly interested in

analytical geometry In classical mathematics, analytic geometry, also known as coordinate geometry or Cartesian geometry, is the study of geometry using a coordinate system. This contrasts with synthetic geometry. Analytic geometry is used in physics and engineerin ...

, publishing numerous papers in mathematical journals and two tracts on theorems connected with the geometry of the triangle. He was described in his obituary in

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

as "a man of a very sociable and affectionate nature utexcessively shy". He died in May 1916 in his native village in Carmarthenshire.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffiths, John 1837 births 1916 deaths 19th-century British mathematicians Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford People from Carmarthenshire People from Kidwelly Welsh mathematicians