9. De Morgan’s Family

Abstract

This chapter places Augustus De Morgan in his familial context. Focusing on his wife Sophia, it explores her fascination with the development of her offspring’s powers of reasoning, underlining that interest in education was the preserve of both husband and wife, not of Augustus De Morgan alone. The chapter also balances De Morgan’s intellectual legacy with his biological legacy through his children’s achievements: we learn of their second son George, a budding mathematician and co-founder of the London Mathematical Society, who fell victim to an early death; their youngest daughter Mary, who became a published author of fairy tales and short stories; and their eldest son William, who, although best known in his lifetime as a successful novelist, is remembered today for his innovative work as a ceramic artist, particularly his creation of ‘De Morgan tiles’, via which the name of De Morgan continues to live on.