A Mathematical History Tour: St Andrews and John Napier

Chapel of St. Salvatore's College, St Andrews University, Scotland

On October 1, 1563, 13-year-old John Napier matriculated to St Andrews University, becoming a student at St. Salvatore's College. St Andrews was a surprising choice for a couple of reasons. First, while Scotland eventually became an intellectual powerhouse, it was not so at this time. For various reasons, the universities were in a particularly bad state, to the point that a petition was sent to Mary, Queen of Scots, to "remedy these evils" of the "imperfect" teaching" that was going on to the "detriment of the whole lieges, their children and posterity." And second, three years prior to his matriculation, John's own uncle, a high-powered political and religious figure, had written his father pleading that John be sent to "France or to Flanders" for his education because "he could learn no good at home" in Scotland.

St. Salvatore's College, St Andrews University, Scotland

Despite this situation and these concerns, off to St Andrews John Napier went. While there, he developed what was to become a lifelong passionate interest in theology in general and in the Book of Revelation in particular. His student years were a time of religious upheaval amidst the Scottish Reformation. In his later writing, Napier reflects on connections that impacted him religiously during his time at St Andrews. One was a very close friendship with a "gentleman" who was a Roman Catholic. Another was that of sitting under the teaching of Christopher Goodman, a Protestant preacher who had spent time in Geneva with John Knox. Goodman's sermons on the Apocalypse were what especially caused Napier to become enamored of Revelation.

Eventually, in 1611, he wrote a commentary on Revelation. It was influential and well-received (though strongly anti-Catholic). In the preface he wrote: "from henceforth [the time at St Andrews], I determined with myself (by the assistance of God's Spirit) to employ my study and diligence to search out the remaining mysteries of that holy book: as to this hour (praised be the Lord) I have been doing at all times, as conveniently, I might have occasion."

St. Salvatore's Chapel, St Andrews University

Old door in St. Salvatore's Chapel, St Andrews, Scotland

St. Salvatore's Chapel, St Andrews University, Scotland

St. Salvatore's Chapel, St. Andrews University, Scotland

Napier's time at St Andrews was short. We know he began on October 1, 1563, but there is no record of him completing a degree there. His mother died on December 20 of that year, not quite three months after he arrived. It seems that after this time he went on to study on the European continent - possibly in France or Flanders - possibly in Geneva or even Italy.

(This next bit is in parentheses because it is "off the record" and simply a statement of my own whimsical imaginings. I can't help but wonder if the reason he went to St Andrews initially rather than to the continent, as his uncle, the Bishop of Orkney, had wished, is that his mother wanted her son to remain close and that John and his father honored that desire. Then after her death, he did go abroad. I have no evidence to support this idea - other than that the timing suggests this to me - and my own experience of being a mother myself.)

St. Salvatore's Chapel, St Andrews University, Scotland

St. Salvatore's Chapel, St Andrews, Scotland

Records show that Napier was back in Scotland by 1571, well-educated in the classics and in mathematics, and with a particularly strong background in Greek (a subject not taught in Scotland at the time). His proficiency with Greek was so good that he was able to correct errors in the Vulgate. He went on to become the most mathematically prominent and internationally renowned British scientist of his time through his invention of logarithms, which were said to have so shortened mathematical labors as to have "doubled the life of the astronomer." Johannes Kepler wrote Napier a letter in 1619 with high praise for his invention. Unfortunately, Napier had died two years before the letter was sent.

In conclusion, though we do not know full details of John Napier's university education, we do know that it began at St Andrews, and that however short his time there may have been, it left a lasting impact on his life and work.

Here are a few more pictures taken in St Andrews.