George Tollet (died 1719) was a mathematician and naval administrator. He was a founder member of the Dublin Philosophical Society.[1]

Tollet presented many papers and experiments to the society, concentrating on applied mathematics. He moved to London in 1688, where he became acquainted with many members of the Royal Philosophical Society, including Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley as well as literary figures such as Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn.[2]

Tollet held various government posts before being appointed Commissioner of the Navy in 1702, a post which involved moving to the Tower of London until 1714, after which he retired to his country home at Betley Hall, Staffordshire.

Tollet was interested in education; in 1685 William Molyneux, a member of the Dublin society wrote to Halley in London mentioning an eleven-year old girl that he had trained in arithmentic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry.[3] He also ensured the education of his own daughter, the poet Elizabeth Tollet.[2]

Tollet retired to Betley, Staffordshire in 1718 and died in 1719.[1] He had married Elizabeth Oakes of the Isle of Man. Betley Hall was inherited by their son George Tollet, the Shakespearian scholar (1725-1779}.

References

  1. ^ a b Londry, Michael (September 2004). Tollet, George (d. 1719). Vol. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-10-17. (library card access)
  2. ^ a b Londry, Michael (September 2004). Tollet, Elizabeth (1694–1754). Vol. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2009-10-17. (library card access)
  3. ^ Gilbert, J. T. (1859). "IV". History of the City of Dublin. Vol. II. M'Glashan and Gill. ISBN 0717109429. "I must confess, we have been lately something idle-and several of our meetings have been employed by a young mathematical female in this place, bred up by one Mr. Tollet, a teacher of mathematics, and a most excellent learned man in that kind. The child is not yet eleven, and yet she hath given sufficient proofs of her learning in arithmetic, the most abstruse parts, algebra, geometry, trigonometry plane and spherical, the doctrine of the globes, chronology, and on the violin plays anything almost at sight. As this is a most plain instance of the force and power of timely education, and of the reach that man has naturally, we have thought it worth our while to consider and examine it thoroughly; and indeed we find, at least, that the child seems to have no more natural inclination or delight in these things than ordinarily amongst children."

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