English mathematician who wrote on the mathematical theory of perspective (he gave the first general statement of vanishing points ), as well as magnetism, capillary actions, thermometers, and calculus.

He invented the method for expanding functions in terms of polynomials about an arbitrary point known as Taylor series, which he published in Methodus in crementorum directa et inversa (1715). Taylor series were a generalization of the Maclaurin series devised by Maclaurin. However, they had actually been known by Gregory long before, and in essence were also known to Johann Bernoulli. Taylor was one of the first to recognize the existence of singular solutions to differential equations .

Additional biographies: MacTutor (St. Andrews)