William Jones
Type: Person
As of November 2026, William Jones has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Oxford Mathematics (Nov 2025). Presented as the person who first introduced the symbol π in print (1706) and cited Machin’s computed digits.
William Jones, FRS was a Welsh mathematician best known for his use of the symbol π to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. He was a close friend of Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Edmund Halley. In November 1711, Jones became a fellow of the Royal Society, and later served as the Royal Society's vice-president.
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Nov 2025 on Oxford Mathematics |
| Role | Welsh mathematician and teacher |
| Affiliation | Royal Society (Fellow; historical) |
Who talks about William Jones on podcasts?
William Jones came up; the most recent mention was Nov 2025 on Oxford Mathematics.
- Measuring circles (C = 2πr and A = πr²) on Oxford Mathematics (Nov 2025)
What is William Jones mentioned alongside?
Worked with: John Machin