North City in Dublin in County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)

William Rowan Hamilton

1805 - 1865

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 3, 2025

1. William Rowan Hamilton Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Mathematician and Astronomer
BORN HERE

Matamaiticeoir agus Réalteolaí
A RUGADH ANSEO

[Unveiled 16 October 2024]

Erected 2024 by Dublin City Council/Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is October 16, 1843.

Location. 53° 21.149′ N, 6° 16.066′ W. Marker is in Dublin, Leinster, in County Dublin. It is in North City. It is on Bolton Square (formerly Dominick Street Lower) just south of Bolton Street (National Route 1), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21-24 Bolton Square, Dublin, Leinster D01 XK33, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ancient East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

on the Island of Ireland,

on the Celtic Fringe,

in the European Union,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Bryan (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); John Ingram (about 150 meters away); Decision To Rise Against British Rule (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Sean McLoughlin (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Garden of Remembrance

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Robert Mallet F.R.S. (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Penneys (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Miami Showband Murders (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dublin.

Regarding William Rowan Hamilton. Per the Dublin City Council website:

This plaque marks the site of the childhood home of William Rowan Hamilton, at 36 Dominick Street, Dublin 1 (now 21-24 Bolton Square).

Sir William Rowan Hamilton (1805–1865) was an Irish mathematician and physicist renowned for his contributions to algebra, optics, and mechanics. A child prodigy in languages, he later focused on mathematics and made significant discoveries, including the reformulation of Newtonian mechanics, known as Hamiltonian mechanics.

He also invented quaternions, an extension of complex numbers, which laid the groundwork for modern vector analysis. In honour of his invention 16 October is celebrated as Hamilton Day, marking the day he ‘discovered’ quaternions and carved the formula into the bridge over the Royal Canal, at Cabra.

Hamilton served as the Royal Astronomer of Ireland and Professor of Astronomy at

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 3, 2025

2. William Rowan Hamilton Marker

Trinity College Dublin, based at Dunsink Observatory, where he lived and conducted much of his work.

Hamilton’s work greatly influenced the development of modern physics and mathematics.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.