Sir James Ivory

For four years Ivory studied Arts (which at that time would have included sciences) and then spent two years in theology. He left St. Andrews to go to Edinburgh for the final year of theology, which was required to become a Church of Scotland Minister, but never followed his intended path.

He returned to Dundee in June of 1786 to teach mathematics at the newly founded Dundee Academy, which had come about partly through Ivory’s own efforts. In a draft prospectus (Page 1, Page 2) for the school, Ivory’s fees as Assistant Master are given as half-a-guinea per session, compared to two guineas for James Weir, the Rector. Ivory was the most poorly paid of the three teachers, but this did not reflect his ability. Weir recognised this and “as a profound mathematician confessed to his friends his inferiority to his assistant” [R. Mudie, Dundee Delineated, Dundee, 1822. p.195].

Perhaps understandably, given his humble fees, Ivory quit the school for business in November 1789, barely a month into Dundee Academy’s fourth year. He went into partnership with a Mr Douglas and started up a flax mill on Carbet Water at Douglastown, near Forfar. Ivory was the managing partner but still devoted much of his time to mathematics, presenting four papers to the Royal Society of Edinburgh during this period. The venture in manufacturing was never successful and the partnership was dissolved with losses in 1804.

Ivory was quickly re-employed, returning to teaching when he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Military College, then at Marlow but later at Sandhurst. It was in his early years here that he gave gave his first paper to the Royal Society of London. He was very highly regarded at the College and when, in 1819, he retired without the requisite years for a full army pension, this was pressed for and obtained on his behalf by his colleagues. In 1814 Ivory won the prestigious Copley Medal presented every year by the Royal Society of London. His citation read “For his various Mathematical Contributions printed in the Philosophical Transactions”.

Ivory’s premature retiral was brought about by ill health: it seems he was an early sufferer from stress, pressured by the long hours and vast effort he spent on higher mathematical research, in addition to his teaching.

His retirement was spent in London, initially with little more than the most basic necessities. This changed when his friend Henry Brougham, the then Lord Chancellor, recommended him for a knighthood. Ivory was made a Knight of the Order of Hanover and his Civil List pension was raised to £300 per annum. He lived out his last years in comfort, continuing to contribute to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Ivory offered his scientific library to Dundee in 1829, although there was no suitable place to house the books at that time. It was not until 1866 that they were received by Dundee Public Library, after the death of Ivory’s heir – his nephew, James, Lord Ivory. There are approximately 300 books in the collection, dating from the sixteenth century. Unfortunately, only three remain in their original bindings, the rest having been rebound in matching blue buckram.