John Wallis as editor of Newton's mathematical work (Q2906636)

Newton's preference for expressing his formal results in a geometrical-logical language is well recognized. In spite of making significant new algebraic results, he regarded them as algorithmic tools of discovery that ultimately had to be justified geometrically. This paper describes the key role of John Wallis in publishing Newton's algebra results, and thereby gaining him the precedence he deserved, mainly through the correspondence between the two. A brief comparison of their biographies is given. Wallis, like many others at the time, had no qualms concerning publishing his work in algebra. In general, Wallis's main motivations depicted here were the promotion of British mathematics and his own mathematics. He was evidently able to combine both of these as an editor of Newton's work within his own works. Wallis took advantage of precedence arguments, especially the simmering Newton-Leibniz controversy over the discovery of the calculus, to have Newton make him, in effect, a principal publisher and defender of Newton's early unpublished algebraic work. This was done through Wallis's English \textit{Treatise of Algebra} (1685) and three-volume Latin \textit{Opera} (1693--99). Newton was thus able to avoid lending direct support to enhancing the status of algebra while still assuring his place in history.