1656-1698

Irish mathematician and astronomer who in 1692 published the first work in the British Isles on the subject of optics, Dioptrica nova, which contained a discussion of the "magic lantern." The latter was a primitive type of projector, considered a forerunner of modern-day motion-picture projectors. Molyneux also designed a telescopic sundial and a new gyroscope, and with his father, Samuel Molyneux, conducted experiments in gunnery.