Francis Bashforth

Francis Bashforth (8 January 1819 – 12 February 1912) was an English Anglican priest and mathematician, who is known for his use of applied mathematics on ballistics.

Early life and education Bashforth was born on 8 January 1819 in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire, England. Bashforth was the eldest son of John Bashforth, a farmer. He was educated at Doncaster Grammar School. From 1857 until 1908, he was the Rector of Minting in Lincolnshire, the living of which belonged to his college. He also studied liquid drops and surface tension. The Adams–Bashforth method (a numerical integration method) is named after John Couch Adams (who was the 1847 Senior Wrangler to Bashforth's Second Wrangler) and Bashforth. They used the method to study drop formation in 1883.

Personal life On 14 September 1869, Bashforth married Elizabeth Jane, daughter of the Revd Samuel Rotton Piggott.

Bashforth died on 12 February 1912 in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England, aged 93.

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