E.T.Bell在Men of Mathematics一书中,有关Hamilton的一章使用了“一个爱尔兰人的悲剧”这样的标题,下面摘录这一章的一段:“在他获得的荣誉中,最使他感到高兴的是他临死时所得到的那最后一项:被遴选为美国国家科学院的外籍院士。这个荣誉主要是褒奖他对四元数的研究。由于某种奥妙,那时美国数学家对四元数比对Newton的《原理》一书发表以来的其他英国数学成就表现出更大的兴趣。为何四元数很快就能在美国普及开来,至今仍然令人百思不得其解。也许,《四元数讲义》的夸夸其谈迎合了美国这个年轻而又精力旺盛的国家的口味。”
If we define a 19-th century mathematician as one who had died between 1800 and 1900,then the book contains bios of 27 19-th century mathematicians,and31+ 20-th century mathematicians [I think the +sign should mean around10].
The increaseis of course due to the recognition of the importance of science, and the increasing prosperity of mankind.
I am trying to buy a copy of the one on physicists.