John Collins - Icon Profile | Alexandria
John Collins (1625-1683)
John Collins, a pivotal yet often overlooked figure in 17th-century mathematics, was an English accountant, mathematician, and scientific networker whose influence extended far beyond his humble origins as a bookkeeper's apprentice. Known to some contemporaries as "Mersennus Anglus" for his role as a mathematical correspondent (similar to Marin Mersenne in France), Collins served as a crucial hub in the scientific revolution's informal communication network.
First emerging in London's mathematical circles in the 1650s, Collins's earliest documented contributions coincided with the tumultuous period of the English Commonwealth. His 1658 publication "An Introduction to Merchants Accounts" marked the beginning of his public mathematical career, though it was his role as a correspondent that would prove most historically significant. During an era when scientific journals were in their infancy, Collins maintained extensive correspondence with leading mathematicians including Isaac Newton, Gottfried Leibniz, and James Gregory.
The "Collins Archive," a collection of over 2,000 letters discovered long after his death, revealed Collins's instrumental role in disseminating mathematical knowledge throughout Europe. Perhaps most intriguingly, these letters became central to the famous Newton-Leibniz controversy regarding the invention of calculus. Collins had unwittingly preserved evidence that would later fuel one of mathematics' most heated priority disputes. His correspondence network served as an informal clearing house for mathematical discoveries, earning him the unofficial title of "mathematics postmaster of the Republic of Letters."
Collins's legacy extends beyond his role as a facilitator of mathematical discourse. His work on maritime navigation, including improvements to mathematical tables and calculating methods, contributed significantly to England's maritime supremacy. Today, scholars continue to mine the Collins Archive, uncovering new insights into the development of modern mathematics and the complex web of relationships that characterized the scientific revolution. His life raises compelling questions about the role of "middle men" in scientific advancement and the hidden figures who help shape the course of intellectual history through their connecting influence rather than direct discoveries.