Stephen Peter Rigaud | |
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| Born | 12 August 1774 |
| Died | 16 March 1839 (aged 64) |
| Resting place | St James, Piccadilly, London |
| Alma mater | Exeter College, Oxford |
Stephen Peter Rigaud (12 August 1774–16 March 1839) FRAS[1] was an English mathematical historian and astronomer. Rigaud was born into a French Protestant family.[2] His father, Stephen (also known as James Stephen) Rigaud, was Observer at the Kew Observatory. The painter John Francis Rigaud, who painted a portrait of Rigaud, aged four, and his sister Mary Anne was not his uncle but other possible connections are unknown.
He was a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, from 1794 to 1810, held the Savilian Chair of Geometry at the University of Oxford from 1810 to 1827, and was Savilian Professor of Astronomy from 1827 to 1839.[2] He lived at 21 Richmond Green in Richmond, Surrey (now Richmond, London) from 1815 to 1826.[3]
"He devoted his leisure to research and authorship in the field of scientific biography. A well-informed friend has said of him, — " He had a peculiar delight in tracing the history of an invention, or illustrating the biography of those who, however eminent in their day, were in after ages known to have lived, flourished for a time, and died. To collect the materials for their lives, to throw light upon their habits, enumerate their works, and do justice to their merits, was a principal source of his amusement ; and his perseverance in seeking for materials was exceeded only by the discrimination and impartiality which accompanied his researches and rendered them of permanent value."[4]
