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in 1710. His father, who was a weaver in that town, 
intended to bring him up to his own trade, and took little 
heed of his education. Nature, however, had endowed 
him with fine talents, and an ardour of disposition, which 
excited him to nobler pursuits. At an early period he 
gave indications of his turn for study, by eagerly perusing 
every book that fell in his way, and omitting no opportunity 
to acquire instructions from others. His father, finding 
that he was thus led to neglect his work, endeavoured to 
restrain him from what he regarded as idle pursuits; but 
after some fruitless attempts, a difference was produced be¬ 
tween them, which at length terminated in an open rupture, 
and Thomas left his father’s house, and married the widow 
of a tailor, with whom he resided at Nuneaton, where he 
continued some time working at his trade, and improving 
his knowledge. Here he became acquainted with a travel¬ 
ling pedlar, who lodged in the same house, and who, to 
the profession of an itinerant merchant, had united the more 
profitable one of a fortune-teller. An intimacy was formed 
between them; and as the pedlar was going to Bristol, he 
lent, during his absence. Cocker’s Arithmetic to Simpson, 
to which was subjoined a short appendix on Algebra; and a 
book on Genitures, by Partridge, the almanack-maker. 
These books he studied so closely, that on the pedlar’s re¬ 
turn, he was astonished to find that Simpson was little 
inferior to himself in the art of calculating nativities; and he 
predicted that he would shortly be his superior. En¬ 
couraged by this prophecy, he at first determined to embark 
in the trade of a fortune-teller; and by this occupation, and 
teaching a school, he found means to support himself with¬ 
out weaving, which he now entirely abandoned, and was 
soon regarded as the oracle of the neighbourhood. From 
this time he seems to have lived very comfortably, till an 
unfortunate event involved him in a deal of trouble. Hav¬ 
ing undertaken to raise the devil, in order to answer certain 
questions to a young woman, who consulted him respecting 
her sweetheart, then absent at sea, the credulous girl was so 
frightened on the appearance of a man from beneath some 
straw, who represented the devil, that she fell into violent 
fits, from which she was with difficulty recovered, and 
which for a considerable time threatened insanity or fatuity. 
In consequence of this exertion of his art, he was obliged to 
leave the place, and he removed to Derby, where he re¬ 
mained a few years, working at his trade by day, and in¬ 
structing pupils in the evening. He became a writer in the 
Lady's Diary in the year 1736: his first questions were 
stated in verse, and are of such a kind as shew that at this 
period he had made some progress in. mathematical know¬ 
ledge. He from this time applied himself with great 
ardour to every branch of the analytic science, and acquired- 
a deep insight into the doctrine of fluxions, upon which he 
afterwards published a work, which is even now regarded 
as among the best, if not the very best, existing in our lan¬ 
guage. After he had given up astrology, and its emolu¬ 
ments, he found himself reduced to great straits, notwith¬ 
standing his industry to provide a subsistence for his family 
at Derby; and on that account he determined to remove to 
London, which he did in the year 1736. When he arrived 
at the capital, unknown and without recommendation, he 
for some time followed his business in Spitalfields, and 
taught mathematics in the evening, and at other spare hours. 
His exertions were attended with such success, that he re¬ 
turned to the country, and brought to town his wife, with 
her three children. The number of his scholars increased, 
and he was encouraged to make proposals for publishing by 
subscription “ A New Treatise of Fluxions.” The book 
was printed in 1737. In the year 1740 he published “A 
Treatise on the Nature and Laws of Chance.” This is a 
very thin and small quarto ; and to this treatise are annexed 
full and clear investigations of two important problems, 
added to the second edition of De Moivre’s Book of 
Chances, as also two new methods for the summation of 
series. Mr. Simpson’s next publication was a volume, in 
quarto, of “ Essays on several curious and interesting Sub¬ 
jects in speculative and mixed Mathematics," printed in 
1740. Soon after the publication of this book, he was 
chosen member of the Royal Academy at Stockholm. This 
was followed by a smaller volume, on “ The Doctrine of 
Annuities and Reversions, deduced from general and evident 
Principles, with useful Tables, shewing the Values of single 
and joint Lives.” Next year came out an “ Appendix, 
containing Remarks on De Moivre’s Book on the same 
Subject, with Answers to some personal and malignant Re¬ 
presentations, in the Preface to it.” In 1743 he published 
his “ Mathematical Dissertations on a variety of physical 
and analytical Subjects.” Shortly after this he published 
“ A Treatise on Algebra,” which in the year 1755 he en¬ 
larged and considerably improved. After this he gave the 
public his “ Elements of Geometry,” with their applica¬ 
tion to mensuration, to the detennination of maxima and 
minima, and to the construction of a great variety of 
geometrical problems. This work has passed through 
many editions, and is still read in some places devoted to 
the education of the young; though generally it has 
been superseded by other treatises of more modern date. 
The first edition of this book occasioned some controversy 
between Mr. Thomas Simpson and Dr. Robert Simson, 
the author of a well-known edition of Euclid’s Elements. 
In the year 1748, Mr. Simpson published “Trigo¬ 
nometry, plane and spherical, with the Construction and 
Application of Logarithms.” In 1750 he published a new 
edition of his “ Treatise on Fluxions,” which, however, he 
wished to be considered rather as a new work than a new 
edition of an old one. In 1752 appeared in 8vo. a work, 
entitled, “ Select Exercises for young Proficients in Mathe¬ 
matics;” and in 1757 he published his last work, entitled 
“ Miscellaneous Tracts,”—“ which,” says Dr. Hutton, 
“ was a valuable bequest, whether we consider the dignity 
and importance of the subjects, or the sublime and accurate 
manner in which they are treated.” Such are the scientific 
works of Mr. Simpson. Through the interest of Mr. Jones, 
the father of the celebrated Sir William Jones, Mr. Simpson 
was, in 1743, appointed to the professorship of mathematics, 
then vacant, in the Royal Academy of Woolwich; and in 
1745 he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. On 
this occasion, in consequence of his very moderate circum¬ 
stances, he was excused his admission fees, and from giving 
bond for the settled future annual payments. As a pro¬ 
fessor, he exerted all his talents in instructing the pupils 
committed to his care. He had, it has been said, a peculiar 
and happy method of teaching, which, united to a great 
degree of mildness, engaged the attention, and conciliated 
the esteem and friendship of his scholars. Mr. Simpson 
died in the year 1761, in the 51st year of his age. Besides 
the works already mentioned, he wrote several papers, which 
were read before the Royal Society, and printed in their 
Transactions. He was not only a contributor to, but for 
some years editor of, the Lady’s Diary, during which, viz., 
from the year 1754 to 1760, he raised that work to a high 
degree of respectability. In 1760, when a plan was in 
agitation for erecting Blackfriars bridge, he was consulted 
by the committee in regard to the best form for the arches. 
On this occasion he preferred the semicircular form; and 
besides his report to the committee, he wrote some letters 
on the subject, which were afterwards published in the 
Gentleman’s Magazine. 
SIMPSON, a parish of England, in Buckinghamshire, 
near Fenny-Stratford. Population 372. 
SIMPSON, a township of Lower Canada, in the county of 
Buckingham. 
SIMPSON’S ISLAND, a small island in the South Pacific 
Ocean, discovered by Captain Carteret in 1767; 4 miles 
west from Carteret’s island. Lat. 8. 26. S. long. 159. 
20. E. 
SIMPSONVILLE, a post village of the United States, in 
Montgomery county, Maryland. 
SIMPULUM, among the Romans, a vessel with a long 
handle, and made like a cruet. It was used in sacrifices and 
libations, for taking a very little wine at a time. 
SIMSBURY, a post township of the United States, in 
Hartford 
