James Gregory

Scottish mathematician and astronomer
Person human Q313906
James Gregory
William Holl · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Summary

James Gregory is a human[1]. His place of birth was The Manse, Drumoak Kirk, Drumoak[2]. He was born on January 1, 1638[3]. He died in Edinburgh[4]. He died on January 1, 1675[5]. He worked as a mathematician[6], astronomer[7], inventor[8], university teacher[9], and writer[10]. He ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (118 views/month, #7,262 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • James Gregory was born in The Manse, Drumoak Kirk, Drumoak[2].
  • James Gregory passed away in Edinburgh[4].
  • James Gregory was born on January 1, 1638[3].
  • James Gregory was born on November 1638[12].
  • James Gregory died on January 1, 1675[5].
  • James Gregory died on October 1675[13].
  • James Gregory's father was Rev. John Gregorie[14].
  • James Gregory's mother was Janet Anderson[15].
  • A child of James Gregory was James Gregorie[16].
  • James Gregory held citizenship in Kingdom of Scotland[17].
  • James Gregory worked as a mathematician[6].
  • James Gregory worked as an astronomer[7].
  • James Gregory worked as an inventor[8].
  • James Gregory worked as a university teacher[9].
  • James Gregory worked as a writer[10].
  • James Gregory's field of work was mathematics[18].
  • James Gregory's field of work was astronomy[19].
  • James Gregory held the position of Regius Professor of Mathematics[20].
  • Among James Gregory's employers was University of St Andrews[21].
  • James Gregory was employed by University of Edinburgh[22].
  • James Gregory was educated at University of St Andrews[23].
  • James Gregory's education included a stint at University of Padua[24].
  • James Gregory was educated at University of Aberdeen[25].
  • James Gregory was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School[26].
  • James Gregory's education included a stint at Marischal College[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in The Manse, Drumoak Kirk, Drumoak[2], James Gregory… Recorded date of birth include January 1, 1638[3] and November 1638[12]. His father was Rev. John Gregorie[14]. His mother was Janet Anderson[15].

Education

Educated at University of St Andrews[23], a public university[28], in United Kingdom[29], founded in 1413[30], headquartered in Fife[31]; University of Padua[24], a university[32], in Italy[33], founded in 1222[34], headquartered in Padua[35]; University of Aberdeen[25], a public research university[36], in United Kingdom[37], founded in 1495[38], headquartered in Aberdeen[39]; Aberdeen Grammar School[26], a secondary school[40], in United Kingdom[41], founded in 1257[42]; and Marischal College[27], a building[43], in United Kingdom[44], founded in 1593[45]. James Gregory studied under Stefano degli Angeli[46].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include mathematician[6], astronomer[7], inventor[8], university teacher[9], and writer[10]. Fields of work include mathematics[18], an academic discipline[47] and astronomy[19], a branch of science[48]. Employers include University of St Andrews[21], a public university[49], in United Kingdom[50], founded in 1413[51], headquartered in Fife[52] and University of Edinburgh[22], a public university[53], in United Kingdom[54], founded in 1583[55], headquartered in Edinburgh[56]. James Gregory held the position of Regius Professor of Mathematics[20].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Optica Promota[57]; Vera Circuli et Hyperbolae Quadratura[58]; Geometriae Pars Universalis[59]; Gregory's series[60], a Taylor series[61]; Gregorian telescope[62], an astronomical instrument[63]; and Gregory coefficients[64], a mathematical concept[65]. Things named for James Gregory include Arecibo Radio Telescope[66], a radio telescope[67], in Puerto Rico[68]; Gregorian telescope[69], an astronomical instrument[70]; James Gregory Telescope[71], an optical telescope[72], in United Kingdom[73]; Gregory number[74]; and Gregory[75], a lunar crater[76].

Recognition

James Gregory received the Fellow of the Royal Society[77].

Personal Life

A child of James Gregory was James Gregorie[16]. His religion is recorded as Church of Scotland[78].

Death and Burial

Recorded date of death include January 1, 1675[5] and October 1675[13]. James Gregory passed away in Edinburgh[4].

Why It Matters

James Gregory ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (118 views/month, #7,262 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 21 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[79] He is known by 20 alternative names across languages and contexts.[80]

He has been cited as an influence by David Gregory[81], a mathematician[82], 1659–1708[83], of Kingdom of Great Britain[84], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society[85].

He is credited with the discovery of reflecting telescope[86], an astronomical instrument[87] and Gregorian telescope[88], an astronomical instrument[89]. Entities named for him include Arecibo Radio Telescope[66], a radio telescope[67], in Puerto Rico[68]; Gregorian telescope[69], an astronomical instrument[70]; James Gregory Telescope[71], an optical telescope[72], in United Kingdom[73]; Gregory number[74]; and Gregory[75], a lunar crater[76].

FAQs

Where was James Gregory born?

Born in The Manse, Drumoak Kirk, Drumoak[2].

Where did James Gregory die?

James Gregory died in Edinburgh[4].

Who were James Gregory's parents?

James Gregory's father was Rev. John Gregorie[14]. James Gregory's mother was Janet Anderson[15].

What did James Gregory do for work?

James Gregory worked as mathematician[6], astronomer[7], inventor[8], university teacher[9], and writer[10].

Where did James Gregory go to school?

James Gregory was educated at University of St Andrews[23], University of Padua[24], University of Aberdeen[25], and Aberdeen Grammar School[26].

What awards did James Gregory receive?

Honors received include Fellow of the Royal Society[77].

Who did James Gregory influence?

James Gregory has been cited as an influence by David Gregory[81].

What did James Gregory discover?

James Gregory is credited as discoverer of reflecting telescope[86] and Gregorian telescope[88].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] ↑ . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  2. [4] ↑ . Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978). Retrieved . www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  3. [14] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  4. [15] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  5. [17] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  6. [20] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  7. [16] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  8. [23] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  9. [24] ↑ . articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  10. [25] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  11. [26] ↑ . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  12. [27] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  13. [18] ↑ . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [19] ↑ . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  15. [6] ↑ . www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk. www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  16. [7] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  17. [8] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  18. [9] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  19. [10] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  20. [21] ↑ . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  21. [22] ↑ . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  22. [78] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  23. [77] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  24. [3] ↑ . A Short History of Astronomy. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [12] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  26. [5] ↑ . A Short History of Astronomy. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [13] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  28. [57] ↑ . A Short History of Astronomy. wikidata.org.
  29. [58] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  30. [59] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  31. [60] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  32. [62] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  33. [64] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  34. [46] ↑ . books.google.cat. books.google.cat. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [81] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [86] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [88] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [66] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [69] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [71] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [74] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [75] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [47] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [48] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [49] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [50] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [51] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [52] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [53] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [54] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [55] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [56] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [61] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [63] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [65] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [82] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [83] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [84] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [85] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [87] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [89] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [67] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [68] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [70] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [72] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [73] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [76] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] ↑ . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [79] ↑ . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [80] ↑ . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). James Gregory. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/james-gregory-q313906
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  1. 11d ago · Printstream · 2026-10-01 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Wikipedia languages → ['af', 'ar', 'arz', 'az', 'azb', 'bg', 'bn', 'ca', 'commons', 'cs', 'de', 'en',
    Date of birth → +1638-01-01T00:00:00Z, +1638-11-00T00:00:00Z
    Date of death → +1675-01-01T00:00:00Z, +1675-10-00T00:00:00Z
    Claims rich → —
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/57226|batch #57226]]: Import and prefer more precise dates from dewiki"
  2. 13w ago · Nyuhn · 2026-07-10 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14541 → 2D2wB0
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/40849|batch #40849]]: ZGBK ID"
  3. 21w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb → —
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30848|batch #30848]]: match CERL IDs on the basis of GND (5)"
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