On 10 January, 1809, he established with fifty scholars the class of mathematics in the College of San Fernando. In 1810 he was elected a member of the board of barristers, and in the same year he was appointed by the viceroy Abascal editor of the "Gaceta Oficial."

In 1814 he was appointed professor of mathematics in the University of San Marcos, where he introduced the study of astronomy applied to geography and hydrography, and was chosen in the same year cosmographer, in charge of the yearly nautical almanacs.

He visited Chile and wrote about the climate and diseases of that country. When independence was finally declared, Paredes, who had favored the patriot cause, wrote political articles in the paper "E1 Nuevo Sol de Perú." He was afterward comptroller-general, minister to London, deputy to congress, and secretary of the treasury.

He wrote "Modo de hallar por tres observaciones los elementos de la orbita de un cometa" (Lima, 1814); "Tratado de Geometria y Trigonometria" (1836) ; and "Tratado de Aritmetica y Algebra" (1838).

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 StanKlos.com^TM

PAREDES, Jose Gregorio, Peruvian scientist, born in Lima in 1779: died there, 16 December, 1839. He studied in the convent of Buenamuerte under Reverend Francisco Romero, and was graduated at the University of San Marcos in 1803. He was appointed professor of geometry in 1803, and was made examiner of the medical board, holding this office from 1807 till 1813, and that of librarian of the university from 1807 till 1821. On 10 January, 1809, he established with fifty scholars the class of mathematics in the College of San Fernando. In 1810 he was elected a member of the board of barristers, and in the same year he was appointed by the viceroy Abascal editor of the "Gaceta Oficial." In 1814 he was appointed professor of mathematics in the University of San Marcos, where he introduced the study of astronomy applied to geography and hydrography, and was chosen in the same year cosmographer, in charge of the yearly nautical almanacs. He visited Chili and wrote about the climate and diseases of that country. When independence was finally declared, Paredes, who had favored the patriot cause, wrote political articles in the paper "E1 Nuevo Sol de Peril." He was afterward comptroller-general, minister to London, deputy to congress, and secretary of the treasury. He wrote "Modo de hallar pot tres observaciones los elementos de la orbita de un cometa" (Lima, 1814); "Tratado de Geometria y Trigonometria" (1836) ; and "Tratado de Aritmetica y Algebra" (1838).