A mathematical prize offered by The Ladies' Diary was secured by thirteen-year-old Wesley Stoker Barker Woolhouse, an achievement that marked the beginning of a prolific career. Born in North Shields in 1809, he maintained a multifaceted professional life as an actuary, musician, and theorist until his death in 1893, leaving behind an extensive body of published scientific work.
Professional Appointments and Actuarial Work
Woolhouse held the position of Deputy Secretary of The Nautical Almanac between 1830 and 1837. His contributions to the field of actuarial science were significant, most notably through his involvement in the founding of the Institute of Actuaries in 1848. He developed a specific mathematical method for calculating the present value of 1/m-thly life annuities, which remains known as Woolhouse's Formula. Additionally, he authored the 1839 work Investigation of Mortality in the Indian Army, providing data-driven insights into demographic trends of the period.
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From 1844 until 1865, Woolhouse served as the editor of The Lady's and Gentleman's Diary. His influence in this role extended to the wider mathematical community, as a problem he proposed served as the catalyst for Thomas Kirkman to publish his debut work, the schoolgirl problem, which launched the study of combinatorial designs. Beyond his editorial duties, he published textbooks on calculus and algebraic geometry, including Elements of the Differential Calculus in 1852 and An Elementary Treatise on the Application of the Algebraic Analysis to Geometry in 1831.
Music Theory and Measurement Systems
Woolhouse applied rigorous mathematical frameworks to the study of acoustics and musical structure. In his 1835 publication, Essays on Musical Intervals, Harmonics, and the Temperament of the Musical Scale, he advocated for the implementation of 19 equal temperament. He proposed dividing the octave into 730 segments, now referred to as Woolhouse units, to facilitate the precise measurement of intervals. His interests in standardization extended to his 1856 book, The Measures, Weights and Moneys of All Nations, which provided an analysis of international currency and various calendar systems.
Fast facts
- Born: 1809, North Shields
- Died: 12 August 1893
- Burial: Highgate Cemetery
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Professional fields: Mathematics, Actuarial science, Musicology
- Co-founder: Institute of Actuaries, 1848
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of Woolhouse units?
These units represent a division of the musical octave into 730 parts, proposed by Woolhouse to measure musical intervals precisely.
How did Woolhouse contribute to combinatorial designs?
He published a problem in The Lady's and Gentleman's Diary that inspired Thomas Kirkman to begin his own research into combinatorial mathematics.
