ADAM, was born in Scotland in 1692. He was a clerk for forty years in the South Sea House in London, where he published a large work entitled Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of Commerce, containing a History of the Great Commercial Interests of the British Empire, &c., which is voluminous and heavy; but he seems to have anticipated in some of his speculations the opinions of later times. It was first published in 1762, in two vols. fol. A third edition appeared in 1797-9, in four vols. 4to, the last volume being an appendix and continuation by the editor, Mr Walton. Anderson died in 1765.

Alexander, a very eminent mathematician, who flourished in the early part of the seventeenth century. He was born at Aberdeen, but passed over to the Continent, and settled as a private teacher or professor of mathematics at Paris, where he published or edited, between the years 1612 and 1619, various geometrical and algebraical tracts, which are conspicuous for their ingenuity and elegance. It is doubtful whether he was ever acquainted with the famous Vieta, master of requests at Paris, who died in 1603; but his pure taste and skill in mathematical investigation had pointed him out to the executors as the person most proper for revising and publishing the valuable manuscripts of that illustrious man, who had found leisure, in the intervals of a laborious profession, to cultivate and extend the ancient geometry; and, by adopting a system of general symbols, to lay the foundation and begin the superstructure of algebraical science. Anderson did not come forward, however, as a mere editor; he enriched the texts with learned comments, and gave neat demonstrations of those propositions which had been left imperfect. He afterwards produced a specimen of the application of geometrical analysis, which is distinguished by its clearness and classic elegance.

Of the time of this able geometer's birth and death we are ignorant. His brother David Anderson, a small proprietor in Aberdeenshire, but engaged in business, had likewise a strong turn for mathematics and mechanics, which, joined to great versatility of talent, made him be regarded by his neighbours at that period as a sort of oracle. The daughter of this clever and active burgess was married to John Gregory, minister of Drumoak, in that county, father to the celebrated James Gregory, inventor of the reflecting telescope; and is supposed to have com- Anderson communicated to her children that taste for mathematical learning which afterwards shone forth so remarkably in the family of the Gregorys.

The works of Anderson amount to six thin 4to volumes, which are now very scarce.