Mathematical Treasure: John Craig’s Methodus and Tractatus

John Craig (1663–1731) was a Scottish mathematician and theologian. He studied at Cambridge University under David Gregory, where he remained for much of his life. While a close associate of Isaac Newton, he was also the first man to introduce Leibnizian notation in England. Two of Craig’s most important works were Methodus figurarum lineis rectis et curvis comprehensarum quadraturas determinandi (A method of determining the quadrature of figures comprised in straight lines and curves, 1685) and Tractatus mathematicus de figurarum curvilinearum quadraturis et locis geometricis (A mathematical treatise on the quadrature of curvilinear figures and geometric areas, 1693). Below are some images from his Methodus:

The title page from Craig’s Tractatus:

Craig dedicated the treatise to Gilbert Burnet (1643–1715), Bishop of Salisbury:

Theorems related to quadrature:

Digitizations of Methodus and Tractatus are available from the Wellcome Library.

Index to Mathematical Treasures