1793-1841

English Mathematician

During his career in mathematics, George Green developed some of the most important ideas in the area of mathematical physics. Chief among these was the development of potential function, subsequently used to describe electrical and magnetic fields as well as the energy present in some mechanical systems. His contributions are even more remarkable because he had virtually no formal schooling, rarely had time to devote to research, and was largely self-taught in mathematics.

Green was born to an English baker, also named George Green. His formal schooling was minimal, consisting of only a single year at age eight. However, it is thought that a mathematics student at nearby Cambridge, John Coplis, must have tutored Green in not only mathematics, but French as well. French was important because of the prominence held by French mathematicians at that time; many important papers were written in...