Theodore Strong

Theodore Strong (July 26, 1790 – February 1, 1869) was an American mathematician.

Early life Strong was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts on July 26, 1790. He was the second son of Rev. Joseph Strong and Sophia (née Woodbridge) Strong. Through his paternal grandfather, also known as Rev. Joseph Strong, he was a direct descendant of Joseph Strong, who settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630, and through his maternal grandfather, Rev. John Woodbridge of South Hadley, he was a direct descendant of Governor Thomas Dudley, and Rev. John Woodbridge, who came to Massachusetts in 1634. His brother was Maltby Strong, mayor of Rochester, New York.

After his father's death, he was adopted by his wealthy unmarried uncle, Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, who raised him as his own son. Strong graduated from Yale College in 1812. Strong was elected an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1832. He retired from Rutgers in 1863.

Personal life On September 3, 1818, Dr. Strong was married Lucy Dix (1798–1875) of Littleton, Massachusetts. Lucy and her twin brother John Dix were children of Captain John Dix and Huldah (née Warren) Dix. Her sister, Mary Hartwell Warren was the wife of Asa Mahan, the 1st President of Oberlin College. Together, Theodore and Lucy were the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters:

Mary Dix Strong (1819–1873), who married U.S. Representative John Van Dyke. Sophia Woodbridge Strong (b. 1821), who married Richard Hasluck. He was survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.