John Caswell (sometimes recorded as John Carswell) (1654 or 1655 – 28 April 1712) was an English mathematician who served as Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford from 1709 until his death.
John Caswell (sometimes recorded as "Carswell"),[1] was from Crewkerne, Somerset, and he matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, in March 1671 when he was 16 years old.
[2] He was a pupil of John Wallis, Savilian Professor of Geometry from 1649 until his death in 1703.
[4] In 1709, he became Savilian Professor of Astronomy, and also served as vice-principal of Hart Hall, Oxford.
[2] The inscription on his tombstone (since lost) said:[6] John Caswell M.A., of Somerset by birth, of Wadham by education, a mathematician by discipline, a man upright, kindly and humble; after his unique knowledge had advanced him to the position of Savilian Professor of Astronomy, a much-lamented bodily infirmity took him away – alas – all too swiftly, on 28th April, in the year of our Lord 1712, and in the 56th year of his life.