John Greaves was born at Colemore in Hampshire in 1602. He was the eldest son of Reverend John Greaves. He was sent to Balliol College at Oxford University in 1617 and graduated in 1621. He learned oriental languages, studied Ancient Greek and Arabian and studied Persian writers on astronomy. In 1630, John was chosen Professor of Geometry in Gresham College in London. But he left suddenly in 1637 when he decided to travel to Rome. There he took measurements of monuments like Cestius's Pyramid and the Pantheon. From Rome he sailed to Constantinople and then traveled to Egypt where he measured the pyramids.
In 1640 he returned to England. He was chosen Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University but at the same time fired from his professorship at Gresham College due to his long absence. In 1646, he published Pyramidosgraphia, or a Discourse of the Pyramids in Egypt which was highly criticized by his peers. In 1647, he published, A Discourse of the Roman Foot and Denarius. This time, his writings were praised. Eventually John was fired from his professorship again, this time due to misappropriation of the school's funds. He retired to London and got married. The remainder of his life he spent editing and writing books and papers. He died on October 8, 1652 in London.
George Smith. The Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Amen House, London.
Written by: Elizabeth Olney