Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1637

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.2 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

John Ewing papers, 1771-1789, Ms. Coll. 1637, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1771-1789 (inclusive)

Creator:

Ewing, John, 1732-1802

Form:

notes (documents) and Writings (documents)

Abstract:

John Ewing (1732-1802) was a mathematician, a pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, and a professor, trustee, and provost at the University of Pennsylvania. He was involved in an early insurance fund, Presbyterian Minister's Fund, for which he served as treasurer. He, along with David Rittenhouse, a fellow member of the American Philosophical Society, studied astronomy and made observations. This collection contains manuscript notes and writings relating to Ewing's work with astronomy, annuities, and mathematics.

Reverend Dr. John Ewing was born in 1732 in East Nottingham, Maryland, the son of Nathaniel and Rachel Porter Ewing, and was educated by Rev. Dr. Francis Alison (1705-1779), a noted clergyman. His education continued at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), from which he graduated in 1754. His studies for the ministry resulted in his ordination in 1758; and by 1759, he was serving the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia as pastor, a role in which he continued until his death in 1802. In 1758, he had also begun his service to the University of Pennsylvania, first as professor of ethics from 1758 to 1762 and then as professor of natural philosophy from 1762 to 1778. He served as a trustee from 1779 to 1780 and as provost from 1780 to 1802.

Ewing's relationship with his teacher Dr. Alison continued into a professional realm. In 1759, Alison established the Presbyterian Minister's Fund, considered to be the earliest life insurance company in what is now the United States. Ewing was an early incorporator and served as the Fund's treasurer and performed the tasks of an actuary.

In 1768, Ewing became a member of the American Philosophical Society, serving as vice-president and contributing articles on astronomy to their Transactions. He collaborated on astronomy projects with fellow Society member, David Rittenhouse (1732-1796), a noted astronomer, inventor, and mathematician. Together, Rittenhouse and Ewing collaborated on tracking the transit of Venus in 1769. Ewing and Rittenhouse continued to collaborate over the years on astronomical projects, but also served on land boundary commissions requiring their skills in mathematics and surveying.

Ewing died in 1802.

This collection contains manuscript notes and writings relating to Ewing's work with astronomy, annuities, and mathematics. The collection is organized chronologically, with the exception of the last two folders, the contents of which were created by David Rittenhouse rather than John Ewing.

Loose notes and writings relating to astronomy deal with observations on the eclipse of the sun (1771), the transit of Mercury (1782), the eclipse of the moon (1789), and the parallax of Mercury (undated, but probably between 1780 and 1802, when Ewing was serving as provost of the University of Pennsylvania).

Loose notes and writings relating to annuities and mathematics deal with actuarial "questions," formulas, and assorted mathematical formulas and equations.

A notebook entitled, "Astronomical Tables and Questions about Annuities" contain material that overlaps with the loose notes. Some of the entries deal with observations on a comet (1784), finding the error of a Meridian telescope, determining the longitude of a place from Greenwich (1769 and 1770), observations on the distance of Mars from Saturn (1771), observations on the place of the comet of 1769 and 1770 at Philadelphia, and finding the effect of refraction in contracting the difference of two stars. There are numerous mathematical theorems, usually accompanied by pen and ink drawings. Relating to actuarial and insurance issues are detailed life mortality tables and calculations based on London statistics; annuity charts, schemes, and calculations for widows and children; and a plan for the establishment of insurance funds. There are also recipes for foliating a glass globe on the inner surface and for making ink.