William Moir (1602–1674) was a Scottish mathematician who was principal of

Marischal College Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...

(now known as

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

) from 1649 to 1661.

Life

He was born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

the eldest William Moir of Scottistoun (1570-1623), treasurer of

Aberdeen City Council gd, Comhairle Cathair Obar Dheathain , native_name_lang = , other_name = , image_skyline = Town House, Municipal Offices and Court Houses in Aberdeen.jpg , image_caption ...

, and his wife, Janet Rae (b.1585). He studied at

graduating MA in 1616.Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana vol.7 by Hew Scott He was a Baillie in Aberdeen. In January 1641 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at

. In 1649 he replaced Patrick Dun as Principal of Marischal College, also continuing his role as Professor of Mathematics. He resigned both posts in 1661. He died in Aberdeen on 15 November 1674.

Publications

*Geometry and the Mechanical Part of Mathematics

Family

He married twice: firstly Jean Gordon daughter of Gilbert Gordon of Gordon's Mill, by whom he had two sons and a daughter. On 10 August 1628 he married Jeane Forbes (1605-1696) at the

Kirk of St Nicholas The Kirk of St Nicholas is a historic church located in the city centre of Aberdeen, Scotland. Up until the dissolution of the congregation on 31 December 2020, it was known as the ''"Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting"''. It is also known as ''"The Mit ...

in Aberdeen. By his second marriage he had one son and five daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moir, William 1602 births 1674 deaths People from Aberdeen Academics of the University of Aberdeen Scottish mathematicians