# John Wallis

> English mathematician (*1616 – †1703)

**Wikidata**: [Q208359](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208359)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wallis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-wallis

## Summary
John Wallis was an English mathematician, philosopher, cryptologist, and musicologist who lived from 1616 to 1703. He is best known for developing the Wallis product, an infinite product for the calculation of pi. A member of the Royal Society, Wallis also served as a university teacher and archivist, contributing significantly to the academic landscape of the Kingdom of England.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 23, 1616
- **Nationality:** Kingdom of England
- **Education:** Felsted School; Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge; Queens' College, University of Cambridge
- **Known for:** The Wallis product (infinite product for pi)
- **Employer(s):** University of Oxford
- **Field(s):** Mathematics

## Contributions
John Wallis developed the **Wallis product**, an infinite product for pi, which serves as a method for calculating the mathematical constant. His work in mathematics was influential enough that the asteroid **31982 Johnwallis** was named in his honor. Throughout his career, he produced notable works that spanned various disciplines, including multiple entries identified in academic records (Q130324095, Q42196782, Q130324309).

## FAQs
**What were John Wallis's primary occupations?**
John Wallis held multiple professional titles, including mathematician, philosopher, musicologist, music theorist, cryptologist, university teacher, and archivist.

**Where did John Wallis receive his education?**
He was educated at Felsted School, Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge, and Queens' College at the University of Cambridge.

**What is the Wallis product?**
The Wallis product is an infinite product for pi, a significant mathematical formula developed by John Wallis to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

**Was John Wallis affiliated with any scientific societies?**
Yes, he was a member of the Royal Society, an English learned society for science established in 1660.

**When did John Wallis live?**
John Wallis was born on November 23, 1616, and died on October 28, 1703, within the timeframe of the Kingdom of England.

## Why They Matter
John Wallis matters because he provided a foundational tool for calculus and mathematical analysis through the Wallis product, influencing how mathematicians understand infinite products and constants. His multidisciplinary expertise—spanning mathematics, cryptology, and music theory—exemplifies the broad intellectual scope of the 17th-century scientific revolution. As a member of the Royal Society and a university teacher, he helped shape the educational and scientific institutions of the Kingdom of England. His legacy endures not only in mathematical formulas but also in celestial nomenclature, with the asteroid 31982 Johnwallis named in his memory.

## Notable For
- Developing the Wallis product, an infinite product for pi.
- Membership in the Royal Society.
- Having the asteroid 31982 Johnwallis named after him.
- Professional roles as a cryptologist, musicologist, and archivist.
- Affiliation with the University of Oxford as an employer.
- Educational background at the University of Cambridge (Emmanuel College and Queens' College) and Felsted School.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
John Wallis was born on November 23, 1616, in the Kingdom of England. His academic journey began at Felsted School, a school in Essex, England. He subsequently pursued higher education at the University of Cambridge, attending both Emmanuel College and Queens' College. This educational background laid the foundation for his extensive knowledge in mathematics and philosophy.

### Career and Occupations
Wallis was a polymath with a diverse professional portfolio. His primary occupation was that of a mathematician, but he was also deeply involved in the field of philosophy. He possessed specialized knowledge as a cryptologist, serving as a specialist in cryptology. His intellectual pursuits extended to music, where he was recognized as both a musicologist and a music theorist. Additionally, Wallis contributed to academia as a university teacher and served as an archivist, a professional responsible for assessing and preserving information of long-term value.

### Mathematical Contributions
In the field of mathematics, Wallis is renowned for the **Wallis product**, an infinite product for pi. This contribution is a significant mathematical concept related to the properties of numbers and symbolic structures. His work is categorized under the formal science of mathematics, which encompasses branches such as number theory and mathematical analysis. His influence in the field is such that he is listed among notable mathematicians in historical records.

### Affiliations and Legacy
John Wallis was affiliated with the University of Oxford as an employer. He was also a member of the Royal Society, an English learned society for science that was established in November 1660. His legacy extends beyond his lifetime; the asteroid **31982 Johnwallis** was named in his honor. He lived during the era of the Kingdom of England, a historic kingdom that existed from 927 to 1649 and again from 1660 to 1707, dissolving in the same year as his death.

### Personal Details
John Wallis passed away on October 28, 1703. He is also known by the alias "Dr. John Wallis." His life and work are documented across numerous international library and authority systems, reflecting his global recognition in the fields of science and mathematics.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. The Peerage
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Genealogics
5. BnF authorities
6. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
7. Mathematics Genealogy Project
8. Find a Grave
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. NNDB
12. [Great Russian Encyclopedia](http://bigenc.ru/mathematics/text/1895556)
13. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
14. SNAC
15. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
16. Croatian Encyclopedia
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Wallis%20John)
19. LIBRIS. 2018
20. Golden
21. FactGrid