William Shanks (25 January 1812 – June 1882)[1] was a British amateur mathematician.
Shanks is famous for his calculation of π to 707 places, accomplished in 1873, which was only correct for the first 527 places.[2][3] This error was highlighted in 1944 by D. F. Ferguson (using a mechanical desk calculator).[4]
Shanks earned his living by owning a boarding school at Houghton-le-Spring, which left him enough time to spend on his hobby of calculating mathematical constants. His routine was as follows: he would calculate new digits all morning, and then he would spend all afternoon checking his morning's work. To calculate π, Shanks used Machin's formula:
William becknall
1873 was the 19th century (1800-1899).
18th century
early 19th century
The 18th and 19th centuries. The 18th century was the years 1700-1799 and the 19th century was the years 1800-1899.
try William Morris
William becknall
During the last half of the 19th century.
William Morris
William Morris? William Morris?
1873 was the 19th century (1800-1899).
William H. McGuffey
William II King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany
18th century
John, William, James, and George were the most popular baby names in the 19th century.
19th century or the 1800's in Orillia, Ontario
Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, which was in the 19th century.