Mathematician:Edward Cocker

Mathematician

English engraver, who also taught writing and arithmetic.

Supposedly the author of the famous and highly popular Arithmetick, although it is disputed as to whether he actually was the author.

The English proverb "according to Cocker", meaning "absolutely correct", arises from the popularity of this work.

Nationality

English

History

• Born: 1631 in England
• Died: 22 August 1676 in London, England, in impecunious circumstances

Publications

• 1664 Tutor to Writing and Arithmetick
• 1670: Cocker's Urania
• 1675: Cocker's Morals
• 1678: Arithmetick, although some, based on a thesis by Augustus De Morgan, claim this was written by John Hawkins.

Notable Quotes

Arithmetick let a man understand

And after that, Geometry command.

Then let him turn Astronomer and prove

How many Stars are fix'd, how many move.

Next a Geographer Earth's Globe survey

The long-sought, unfound Longitude display.

Apollo's Lyre next let him take in hand,

And all the high Soul-charming Aires command.

Yea, let him have all Arts, all are but smoke

To him that hath no money in his Poke.

from Cocker's Urania (1670)

Sources

• John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "Edward Cocker": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Cocker, Edward (1631-1675)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Cocker, Edward (1631-1675)