John Bonnycastle


John Bonnycastle was an English teacher of mathematics and author.

Life

John Bonnycastle was born in Buckinghamshire, in about 1750.
Nothing is known of his family or early life, but he went to London where he established an Academy.
He became a tutor to the two sons of the Earl of Pontefract at Easton in Northumberland.
Between 1782 and 1785, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he remained until his death on 15 May 1821.
He was a prolific writer, and wrote for the early volumes of Rees's Cyclopædia, about algebra, analysis and astronomy.

Family

At the age of 19, he married a Miss Rolt, but she died young. On Oct.7th, 1786 he married Brigette Newell with whom he had six children Charlotte, William, Mary, Sir Richard, Humphrey and Charles.
His son Richard Henry Bonnycastle settled in Canada, where the family became quite well known in Winnipeg and Calgary.
His son, Charles Bonnycastle became Professor of Mathematics at the University of Virginia.

Writings