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| Thomas Fuller by Physics In History |
Thomas Fuller, also known as "Negro Demus" and the "Virginia Calculator," was an enslaved African renowned for his remarkable mathematical abilities. Born around 1710 in Africa (likely somewhere between present-day Liberia and Benin), Fuller was kidnapped and shipped to America in 1724 at the age of 14. Despite being illiterate, he possessed extraordinary numerical skills that astounded those who encountered him.
Stories of Fuller's mathematical achievements spread throughout the East Coast of the United States and even reached as far as France and Germany, becoming fuel for the abolitionist movement. His abilities served as evidence that Black individuals were not mentally inferior to whites. Let me share some examples of his impressive calculations:
Seconds in a Year and a Half
When asked how many seconds there are in a year and a half, Fuller answered in about two minutes: 47,304,000.
Seconds Lived by a 70-Year-Old
When asked how many seconds a person who is seventy years, seventeen days, and twelve hours old has lived, Fuller responded in a minute and a half: 2,210,500,800.
Initially, one of the gentlemen corrected him, claiming the sum was not as great as he had said. Fuller quickly replied, "Top, massa, you forget de leap year." When the seconds of the leap years were added, the total matched exactly.
Sows and Pigs Problem
Fuller was asked: "Suppose a farmer has six sows, and each sow has six female pigs in the first year. If they all increase in the same proportion for eight years, how many sows will the farmer have?"
In just ten minutes, Fuller answered: 34,588,806.
His abilities left a lasting impact, demonstrating the power of the human mind regardless of race or background. Thomas Fuller's story serves as a testament to the resilience and brilliance of enslaved individuals who overcame immense challenges to contribute to our understanding of mathematics and humanity.
- Thomas Fuller (mental calculator). (2023, December 22). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fuller_%28mental_calculator%29
- J J O'Connor and E F Robertson. (2005, August). Thomas Fuller - Biography [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Fuller_Thomas/
- Thomas Fuller (Ca. 1710–1790). (2023, September 6). In Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved from https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/fuller-thomas-ca-1710-1790/
- Physics In History. (2023, September 23). Thomas Fuller the mental calculator [Graphics]. Retrieved from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6ZGo4ybwAAmJVN?format=jpg&name=medium