August 4th , 1805
Sir William Rowan Hamilton (August 04, 1805 - September 02, 1865) was an Irish mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. Hamiltons discovery of quaternions is his best known investigation. Hamilton also contributed to the development of optics, dynamics, and algebra. Hamiltons research was later significant for the development of quantum mechanics. Dr. John Brinkley, bishop of Cloyne, is said to have remarked in 1823 of Hamilton at the age of eighteen: This young man, I do not say will be, but is, the first mathematician of his age. He made important contributions to optics and to dynamics. Hamiltons papers on optics and dynamics demonstrated theoretical dynamics being treated as a branch of pure mathematics.
