Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography


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KEILL, John.

(1671 – 1721)

(Born: 1671; Died: 1721) English mathematician.

Biographical references: Allibone, Dictionary of English Literature, 1859-71. BBA: I 635, 258-339. Chamber's Scottish Biographical Dictionary, 1996. Waller, Dictionary of Universal Biography, 1857-63. WBI.

1. English, 1698 [First edition].
An examination of Dr. Burnet's Theory of the earth together with some remarks on Mr. Whiston's New theory of the earth by Jo. Keill. Oxford, Printed at the Theater, 1698.

8°: a4 A-O8; 166l.; [8], 224 p., illus.

Rare. A mathematician and astronomer, Keill was known mainly for his exposition of the Newtonian principles and for his arguments against the theory of `natural philosophy' championed by Whiston and Burnet. With the appearance of his Examination of Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth his reputation increased, although his serious use of long trigonometrical proofs to oppose the Theory by testing its hypotheses is to the modern reader ridiculous.

Bibliographical references: Hoover Collection: no. 472. NUC.

2. English, 1734 [2nd edition].
An | Examination | Of | Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth: | With Some | Remarks | On | Mr. Whiston's New Theory of the Earth. | Also | An Examination of the Reflections on the | Theory of the Earth; | And | A Defence of the Remarks on Mr. Whiston's | New Theory. | [rule] | By J. Keill, A.M. of Balliol College, Oxon. | [rule] | The Second Editin Corrected, and all the Figures | (25 in Number) Engraved on Copper Plates. | [double rule] | To the whole is annexed a Dissertation | On The | Different Figures of the Cœlestial Bodies, &c. | With a Summary Exposition of the Cartesian and Newtonian Systems. | [rule] | By Mons. de Maupertuis, Fellow of the Royal | Society, and of the Royal Academy in Paris. | [double rule] | Printed for and Sold by H. Clements, near the Theatre in Oxford's | and S. Harding, on the Pavement in St. Martin's Lane, London. | [rule] | M DCC XXXIV.

8°: [8], [1]-347, [1], [1]-67, [1] p., 13 plates, illus. Rare.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [5 pgs], Dedication, signed Jo. Keill.; [1 pg], "Advertisement."; [1]-23, "Introduction."; 24-347, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-67, Text, starting "A | Dissertation | On The | Different Figures of the | Cœlestial Bodies ..."; [1 pg], "Books | Printed for | Samuel Harding ..."; [At end], 13 plates.

Bibliographical references: Hoover Collection: no. 473. NUC.

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