Alexander MacAuley (1863 - 1931) was one of the founders of biquaternion theory and was the first professor of mathematics and physics at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania. Alexander was born 9 December 1863 and attended Cambridge University, taking his degree in 1886.Departing for Australia, he lectured at Ormond College, University of Melbourne from 1893 to 1895.He was an advocate of quaternion calculus for modeling physical relations. Peter Guthrie Tait praised MacAuley's "Utility of Quaternions in Physics" in these terms: 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... In mathematics, a biquaternion is a numeric and geometric concept developed by William Kingdon Clifford, William Rowan Hamilton, and Alexander MacAuley in the nineteenth century. ... Wikibooks Wikiversity has more about this subject: School of Mathematics Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Mathematics Look up Mathematics on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has more media related to: Mathematics Bogomolny, Alexander: Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles. ... Since antiquity, people have tried to understand the behavior of matter: why unsupported objects drop to the ground, why different materials have different properties, and so forth. ... The University of Tasmania (sometimes known by the monikers UTAS, UTas or Tas Uni) is an Australian university, with three campuses throughout the state of Tasmania. ... Hobart Coat of Arms View from the port of the city centre and Mt Wellington Hobart is the state capital of Tasmania, Australias island state. ... Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... REDIRECT [1] ... The University of Melbourne   The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, in Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia (the University of Sydney is the oldest). ... In mathematics, the quaternions are a non-commutative extension of the complex numbers. ... Peter Tait Peter Guthrie Tait (April 28, 1831 - July 4, 1901) was a Scottish mathematical physicist. ...

Here, at last, we exclaim, is a man who has caught the full spirit of the quaternion system: the real aestus, the awen of the Welsh Bards, the divinus afflatus that transports the poet beyond the limits of sublunary things! Intuitively recognizing its power, he snatches up the magnificent weapon which Hamilton tenders us all, and at once dashes off to the jungle on the quest of big game.

He took up the position in Tasmania from 1896 until 1929.In 1898 he published through Cambridge his Octonions: a Development of Clifford's Biquaternions. Alexander MacAuley passed away 6 July 1931. William Rowan Hamilton Sir William Rowan Hamilton (August 4, 1805 – September 2, 1865) was an Irish mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. ...

References

• 1892 Rev N M Ferres, Review of "On the Mathematical Theory of Electromagnetism", in Proc. Royal Society, London, v.51,p.400
• 1893, Dec. 28 Nature P.G. Tait review quoted above
• 1895 Rev n M Ferres, Preview of Octonions, ibid. v.59,p.169.
• 1900 A. MacAuley "Notes on the Electromagnetic Theory of Light", Phil.Mag.(5)v.49,pp.228-242.
• 1967 M.J. Crowe History of Vector Analysis Chapter 6 details MacAuley's contribution to the international dialogue of experts in linear algebra.