Windsor

COLBURN, Zerah

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, pp 151-152 (contributed 
to this work by Rev. Franklin W. BARTLETT, D. D., Rockport, Massachusetts)

Zerah COLBURN, Norwich [Windsor County, Vermont] arithmetical prodigy, 
minister, and educator, was born 01 September 1804 son of Abia and Elizabeth 
(HILL) COLBURN. Educated at Westminster school, England; Royal College, 
Paris; and University of Vermont. When six years old was surprisingly gifted 
as an arithmetical calculator. Was exhibited in Vermont, and later went on 
an extended tour. At Hanover [Grafton County], New Hampshire, President 
WHEELOCK of Dartmouth College offered to educate him. In Boston problems 
were answered sooner than could be done on paper. He found the number of 
seconds in 2,000 years, and the number of times a clock would strike in 2,000 
years making 156 strokes each day. Told the number of kernels of corn in a 
field on being given the number of acres, rows, hills, ears and kernels on an 
ear. Is reported to have answered in four seconds the number of seconds in 
eleven years. He extracted square and cube roots with ease. His work on 
occasions of exhibition was done entirely by mental process. Some Bostonians 
talked of raising $5,000 for his education, but the plan fell through. In 
Philadelphia Rembrandt PEELE painted a portrait of him. Visited Washington, 
and on the way back with considerable money, derived from exhibitions, the 
father, by a timely discovery, averted a plan to rob him at a New York inn. 
Returning to Vermont, stayed a brief time, left $500 with his wife, and then 
traveled in other states.

In 1812 they [Zerah and his father] began a voyage of thirty-eight days to 
England, with letters of introduction from ex-Gov. GERRY of Massachusetts, 
Hon. Rufus KING and others. The boy's reputation had preceded him. Many 
wished to see for themselves. The philanthropist, William WILBERFORCE, 
showed a personal interest in his moral welfare. Many persons of rank and 
learning called to see him. Among them were the Bishop of Oxford, the Duke 
of Gloucester, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Princess Charlotte with her tutor, 
and Sir Humphrey DAVY. He gave public exhibitions. Asked to square 888.888, 
he gave the correct result in twelve figures, and then multiplied this 
product by forty-nine. His most remarkable power seemed to be in factoring. 
He would give all the factors of some large numbers. Asked to factor 36.083, 
he at once said it was a prime number. Given a certain number of ten 
figures, which had baffled some good mathematicians, he found mentally the 
only two factors which it had. His calculations combined great rapidity, 
accuracy, peculiar methods, unfailing memory and an intuitive power in some 
operations, which he could not impart or explain. Sometimes when doing his 
most difficult tasks, he, like the Royalton boy prodigy, Truman H. SAFFORD, 
would go through bodily contortions, though not himself realizing any mental 
strain. In visits to Scotland and Ireland men of science were attracted. In 
1814 a private tutor was engaged. Taken from London to Paris, a French tutor 
was employed for a few months. The boy was examined before members of the 
French Institute, the astronomer, La PLACE, being present. Dr. GALL, the 
phrenologist, desired to make a plaster cast of his face. Count GUIZOT 
mentioned him with commendation in his Annals of Education. Washington 
IRVING, then in Paris, proved a good friend, and promoted his education and 
advancement. He was admitted to the Royal College 30 May 1815. Napoleon 
desired to meet him, but the battle of Waterloo prevented.

In 1816 Zerah's father took him back to London. There their livelihood had 
been obtained partly from public exhibitions, the sale of engraved portraits 
and the patronage of wealthy people. Advance subscriptions had also been 
obtained for a proposed memoir of the boy and his achievements. Their 
pecuniary condition on their return was precarious; but fortunately they made 
the acquaintance of the good and generous Earl of Bristol, who proved one of 
the best friends Zerah ever had. He sent him to the old Westminister school 
with a view to give him a full course. He remained there three years, and 
his standing was excellent. He had a tutor for two vacations. He quit the 
school in May 1819, grateful for what had been done for him, but unwilling to 
continue his education under a tutor, whom he had considered harsh and 
unreasonable. He next studied for the stage, and acted in some plays. In 
1821-1822 he was a school teacher. In 1823 he studied under Dr. Thomas 
YOUNG, secretary of the Board of Longitude; became his associate in 1824, and 
made astronomical calculations, a position which afforded scope for the 
useful exercise of his special talent. Soon thereafter his father died, and 
the young sailed for New York, after an absence of more than twelve years. 
On meeting his mother at Cabot they did not know one another. In January 
1823, he went to Burlington, where he received pupils in French, and was a 
student in the University of Vermont; became a member of the Methodist 
Church, and preached in Vermont towns about nine years. He is said to have 
been a preacher of eloquence, depth and power.

In 1829 he [Zerah COLBURN] married [Miss?] Mary HOYT, of Hartford [Windsor 
County, Vermont]. Had five daughters and one son, Miss Jane COLBURN, of 
Concord [Merrimack County], New Hampshire, the only survivor. In 1835 he 
became professor of languages in Norwich University, in which occupation his 
last years were spent. He has often been confounded with Warren COLBURN 
(1793-1833), the author of the well-known "Intellectual Arithmetic." They 
are not known to have been related. Zerah COLBURN never published an 
arithmetic, though in his autobiography (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1833) he 
made known in part his methods. Years after his public demonstrations he 
declared that his faculty in numbers never left him, though requiring more 
time when out of practice. He was an honorary member of the Society of 
United Fraternity of Dartmouth College. He [Zerah COLBURN] died on 02 March 
1839 of consumption [tuberculosis] and was buried in Norwich Centre [Windsor 
County, Vermont].

Submitted by Cathy Kubly