George Sinclair’s neglected Treatises: some influences and reactions

Abstract

The works of the Scottish natural philosopher George Sinclair (c.1630–1696) received far more criticism than praise, as described by (Craik, A D D, ‘The hydrostatical work of George Sinclair (c. 1630–1696): their neglect and criticism’, Notes & Records of the Royal Society, 72/3 (2018), 239–273), which focused mainly on Sinclair’s insightful account of hydrostatics. Here, we mention those few who influenced his work, and those who later commented upon it. His flawed account of the motion of pendulums, and the criticisms of it by James Gregory, are particularly examined.