Births on August 4

John Venn

Born on August 4, 1834

John Venn, English mathematician and philosopher (d. 1923)

John Venn, FRS, FSA (4 August 1834 – 4 April 1923) was an English mathematician, logician and philosopher noted for introducing Venn diagrams, which are used in logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computer science. In 1866, Venn published The Logic of Chance, a ground-breaking book which espoused the frequency theory of probability, arguing that probability should be determined by how often something is forecast to occur as opposed to “educated” assumptions. Venn then further developed George Boole's theories in the 1881 work Symbolic Logic, where he highlighted what would become known as Venn diagrams.

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John Venn

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Events on 1834

29 Apr

Second voyage of HMS Beagle
Charles Darwin during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle, ascended the Bell mountain, Cerro La Campana on 17 August 1834, his visit being commemorated by a memorial plaque.[1]
1 Aug

Slavery Abolition Act 1833
Slavery is abolished in the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into force.
16 Oct

Burning of Parliament
Much of the ancient structure of the Palace of Westminster in London burns to the ground.
1 Dec

Slavery Abolition Act 1833
Slavery is abolished in the Cape Colony in accordance with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.