Captures the inspiring life and works of Griffith Davies, a Welsh mathematician who overcame challenges and found success in nineteenth-century London.

Griffith Davies (1788–1855) was born into a poor family in the parish of Llandwrog, near Caernarfon in northwest Wales and worked as both a farm laborer and a slate quarryman. The education he received was rudimentary and intermittent. He possessed little mathematical knowledge, and his command of English was limited when he moved to London in 1809. Within a few years, however, he had published his first mathematical book, established his own school, and had been appointed chief actuary for one of the leading insurance companies. He laid the foundations of his new profession and was awarded numerous honors for his work, including being elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He delivered lectures on scientific and technical subjects in both Welsh and English, was active in social campaigns, and was a prominent member of the Calvinistic Methodist denomination. This well-researched book explores the innovative contributions of this remarkable man during his lifetime.