Editing Robert Simson (section)

==Biography==
Robert Simson was born on 14 October 1687,<ref name=Sneddon>{{cite web | last = Sneddon | first = Ian N. | title = Simon, Robert | website = Encyclopedia.com |url = https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/simson-robert | access-date = 27 April 2023}}</ref><ref>Tweddle gives the date as 18 October in {{Cite ODNB| https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/25606
|title= Simson, Robert}}</ref>  probably the eldest of the seventeen children, all male, of John Simson, a Glasgow merchant, and Agnes, daughter of Patrick Simpson, minister of Renfrew; only six of them reached adulthood.<ref>{{cite book | last = Simpson | first = Helen A | title = Early Records of Simpson Families in Scotland, North Ireland, and Eastern United States | location = Philadelphia | publisher = J. B. Lippincott Company I | page = | date = 1927  | url = https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G005748.pdf | access-date = 29 April 2023}}</ref>

Simson matriculated at the [[University of Glasgow]] in 1701, intending to enter the Church. He followed the course in the faculty of arts (Latin, Greek, logic, natural philosophy) and then concentrated on studying theology and Semitic languages.<ref name=Sneddon/> Mathematics was not taught at the university, but by reading [[George Sinclair (mathematician)|Sinclair's]] ''Tuyrocinia Mathematica in Novem Tractatus'' and then [[Euclid]]’s ''Elements'' Simson soon became deeply interested in mathematics and especially geometry. His efforts impressed the university Senate to such an extent that they offered him the chair of mathematics, to replace the recently-dismissed Sinclair. As he had had no formal training in the subject, Simson turned down the offer but agreed to take up the post a year later, during which time he would increase his knowledge of mathematics.

After a failed attempt to go to Oxford, Simson spent his year in London at [[Christ's Hospital]]. During this time he made valuable contacts with several prominent mathematicians, including [[John Caswell]], [[James Jurin]] (secretary of the Royal Society), [[Humphrey Ditton]] and, most importantly, [[Edmond Halley]].<ref name=Sneddon />

Simson was admitted professor of mathematics at Glasgow, aged 23, on 20 November 1711, where his first task was to design a two-year course in mathematics, some of which he taught himself; his lectures included geometry, of course, and algebra, logarithms and optics. Among his students were [[Colin Maclaurin|Maclaurin]], [[Matthew Stewart (mathematician)|Matthew Stewart]], and [[William Trail]]. He resigned the post in 1761, and was succeeded by another of his pupils [[James Williamson (mathematician)|Rev Prof James Williamson]] FRSE (1725-1795).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Extras/Glasgow_maths.html|title=Mathematics in Glasgow University in 1883}}</ref>

During his time at Glasgow Simson noted in 1753<ref>{{cite web | last = Rankin | first = R A | date = August 1995 | title = Robert Simson| website =  MacTutor | url = https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Simson | access-date = 1 May 2023}}</ref> that, as the Fibonacci numbers increased in magnitude, the ratio between adjacent numbers approached the [[golden ratio]], whose value is
{{bi|left=1.6|1=<math>\varphi = \frac{1+\sqrt5}{2} = </math>{{math|{{val|1.618033988749}}....}}}}

As for the man himself, “Simson appears to have been tall and of good stature. In spite of his great scholarship he was a modest, unassuming man who was very cautious in promoting his own work. He enjoyed good company and presided over the weekly meetings of a dining club that he had instituted … He had a special interest in botany, in which he was an acknowledged expert”.<ref name="Simson, Robert">{{Cite ODNB| https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/25606 |title= Simson, Robert}}</ref>

Robert Simson did not marry. He died, aged 80, in his college residence at Glasgow on 1 October 1768, and was interred in the Blackfriars Burying Ground (now known as [[Ramshorn Cemetery]]), where, in the south wall, is placed to his memory a plain marble tablet, with a highly and justly complimentary inscription”.<ref>{{cite news | title = Sketch of the life of Dr Robert Simson, of Glasgow | newspaper = The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald | page = 3 | date = 4 February 1865}}</ref> Simson's library, including some of his own works, was bequeathed to the university on his death. It consists of about 850 printed books, mainly early mathematical and astronomical texts.<ref>{{cite web | title = Archives and Special Collections: Simson Collection | website = University of Glasgow | url = https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/archivespecialcollections/discover/specialcollectionsa-z/simsoncollection | access-date = 30 April 2023 }}</ref>

Subscriptions towards the erection of a monument to Dr Simson were collected in 1865, with the Senate of the College of Glasgow, the (thirteenth) [[Earl of Eglinton]] and Winton, and the [[Earl Stanhope]] each donating £10; and [[John Carrick Moore]] – the first cousin twice removed of Robert Simson – giving £15.<ref>{{cite news | title = Simson Monument | newspaper = The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald | page =  | date = 4 October 1865}}</ref> The memorial, designed by [[Frederick Thomas Pilkington]], is “a large octagonal monument with carved Egyptian details, topped with a ball finial”.<ref>{{cite web| title = Robert Simson's Memorial | website = Ayrshire & Arran | url =  https://ayrshireandarran.com/professor-robert-simsons-memorial | access-date = 30 April 2023}}</ref> It is situated on a hilltop in [[West Kilbride]] cemetery.