Introduction to Part I.

On 23 June 1713, at the age of 15, Colin MacLaurin graduated with the degree of Master awarded by the Faculty of Arts of the University of Glasgow [62]. As part of the requirements for this degree he presented and defended in public his dissertation, De Gravitate, aliisque viribus Naturalibus, which is the first item in this book. As far as I have been able to ascertain, candidates were not required to submit their work in printed form. It is likely therefore that MacLaurin had his dissertation printed with a view to its later use in the advancement of his career; indeed, it was probably submitted in support of his application for the Chair of Mathematics at Marischal College, Aberdeen, which he successfully contested in August—September 1717.15 The dissertation is affectionately dedicated to MacLaurin's uncle, the Reverend Daniel McLaurin, who was a father-figure to his growing nephew (see Appendix I.2, p. 32).16 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]