John Wilkins

John Wilkins
Attributed to John Greenhill · Public domain · source
Name	John Wilkins
Birth date	1614
Birth place	Canterbury, England
Death date	1672
Death place	London, England
Occupation	Bishop of Chester, Fellow of the Royal Society

John Wilkins was a prominent English clergyman, theologian, and natural philosopher who played a significant role in the development of the Scientific Revolution. He was a close associate of Robert Hooke, Robert Boyle, and Isaac Newton, and was one of the founding members of the Royal Society. Wilkins was also a strong advocate for the use of experimental methods in scientific inquiry, as seen in the works of Francis Bacon and René Descartes. His contributions to science and philosophy were widely recognized by his contemporaries, including Thomas Hobbes and Blaise Pascal.

● Early Life and Education

John Wilkins was born in Canterbury, England in 1614, and was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford and New College, Oxford. He was heavily influenced by the works of Aristotle and Galileo Galilei, and was particularly interested in the study of mathematics and astronomy. Wilkins was also a student of Edward Reynolds, who later became the Bishop of Norwich. During his time at Oxford University, Wilkins was exposed to the ideas of Pierre Gassendi and Marin Mersenne, which further shaped his philosophical and scientific views. He was also familiar with the works of Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, and was a strong supporter of the Copernican heliocentric model.

● Career

Wilkins began his career as a clergyman in the Church of England, serving as a chaplain to Charles Louis, Elector Palatine and later as a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and served as the Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death in 1672. During his time as bishop, Wilkins was a strong advocate for the use of science and reason in the pursuit of knowledge, and was a key figure in the development of the Royal Society. He was also a close friend and advisor to King Charles II, and played a significant role in the establishment of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Wilkins was also acquainted with Christiaan Huygens and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and was familiar with their works on calculus and optics.

● Scientific Contributions

Wilkins made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics, mathematics, and astronomy. He was a strong advocate for the development of a universal language, and published a book on the subject titled An Essay towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language. Wilkins was also interested in the study of cryptography, and was familiar with the works of William Friedman and Charles Babbage. He was a key figure in the development of the scientific method, and was a strong supporter of the use of experimentation and observation in scientific inquiry. Wilkins was also familiar with the works of Evangelista Torricelli and Otto von Guericke, and was interested in the study of vacuum pumps and barometers. He was also acquainted with Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hook, and was familiar with their works on microscopy and cell theory.

● Literary Works

Wilkins was a prolific writer and published several books on a range of subjects, including science, philosophy, and theology. His most famous work is probably A Discovery of a New World, which was a scientific treatise on the possibility of space travel and the existence of life on other planets. Wilkins was also the author of Mathematical Magick, which was a treatise on the use of mathematics in engineering and architecture. He was also familiar with the works of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, and was interested in the study of literature and poetry. Wilkins was also acquainted with John Donne and George Herbert, and was familiar with their works on metaphysics and mysticism.

● Legacy

John Wilkins' legacy is complex and far-reaching, and he is remembered as one of the most important figures of the Scientific Revolution. He was a key figure in the development of the Royal Society, and played a significant role in the establishment of modern science. Wilkins' work on linguistics and cryptography was also highly influential, and he is considered one of the founders of the field of computer science. He was also a strong advocate for the use of reason and experimentation in scientific inquiry, and his ideas had a profound impact on the development of modern philosophy. Wilkins was also familiar with the works of Immanuel Kant and David Hume, and was interested in the study of ethics and metaphysics. Today, Wilkins is remembered as a pioneer of modern science and a key figure in the development of the Royal Society, and his work continues to be studied by scholars and scientists around the world, including those at Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford. Category:17th-century English writers