An Essay for the Discovery of Some New Geometrical Problems (Judged by Some Learned Men, Impractical) concerning Angular Sections

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by George Keith

Archimedous tou Syrakousiou Psamites
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Title not held by The Wolf Law Library
at the College of William & Mary.
 
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This is the only mathematical work of which there is any evidence that George Keith wrote. Its complexity shows some familiarity with high level geometry possibly stemming from Keith's background as a surveyor. [1] The book was "printed for the author, and are to be had at the Three Pigeons over against the Exchange, and at his House in Pudding-lane, at the sign of the Golden Ball, where he teaches the mathematical art." [2]

Keith married Elizabeth Johnston in 1671, also a Quaker, who bore at least three daughters. They emigrated to America in 1684. Mr. Keith preached in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1703, and left behind his daughter, Anne, who had likewise returned to the Anglican fold.

Socially, Keith's writings, such as his 'Exhortation,' foreshadowed "the major religious themes of nineteenth-century abolitionism."[3] Keith traveled to New Jersey to take the post of Surveyor-General. [4] In 1686 he ran the first survey to mark out the border between West Jersey and East Jersey. [5]

It is for his disputes with the Quakers that Keith is best known.[6] Keith’s suggested improvements to Gospel Order were rejected. Keith’s intent had been to aid Quakerism against errors and to challenge the second generation Quakers who seemed to have lost their parents’ fervour. [7] After Keith challenged Christian Lodowick’s statement that the Quakers did not recognize the human Christ, he was charged with preaching two Christs by William Stockdale.[8] Keith demanded meetings be held to judge the issue yet no answer was achieved. In January 1692 Thomas Fitzwalter accused Keith of denying the sufficiency of the light within, a key Quaker doctrine. Keith’s publication of Some Reasons and Causes made the dispute public, aggravating the issue and eventually Keith split from the Quakers.[9]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

See also

References

  1. "George Keith Missionary," last modified August 16th, 2015, http://ca.wow.com/wiki/George_Keith_(missionary)
  2. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A47139.0001.001
  3. Keith, George (1693). An Exhortation & Caution to Friends Concerning Buying or Keeping of Negroes.
  4. "George Keith Missionary," last modified August 16th, 2015, http://ca.wow.com/wiki/George_Keith_(missionary)
  5. Ibid.
  6. "George Keith," accessed October 22, 2015, http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/emforum/projects/brieflives/george_keith/
  7. Ibid.
  8. Ibid.
  9. Ibid.