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John Wallis

(1616-1703), Mathematician

Sitter in 11 portraits
John Wallis was a mathematician who played a part in the development of modern calculus and is credited with introducing the symbol for infinity. Having discovered a facility for code breaking, Wallis became a cryptographer on behalf of the Parliamentary party during the Civil War. He was a founding member of the Royal Society, and contributed more than sixty papers and several reviews of mathematical books to the society's Philosophical Transactions. In 1649, Wallis was appointed Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford. He held his professorship for over half a century, and became known as one of the leading mathematicians of his time.

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John Wallis

by David Loggan
line engraving, 1678
NPG 639

John Wallis

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of 1701
NPG 578

John Wallis

by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1670
NPG D22975

John Wallis

by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1670
NPG D22976

John Wallis

by David Loggan
line engraving, 1678
NPG D7557

John Wallis

by David Loggan
engraving, 1678
NPG D19337

John Wallis

by Michael Burghers, after William Sunman (Sonmans)
line engraving, 1699
NPG D29620

John Wallis

by John Faber Sr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1707-1721
NPG D38503

John Wallis

by John Faber Sr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, published by Thomas Bakewell
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D29621

John Wallis

by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, after David Loggan
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D29619

John Wallis

by Robert Cooper, published by Henry Colburn, after William Derby, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published May 1825
NPG D38504

Groups

Mathematicians

Place

Oxfordshire

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John Wallis

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