William Rowan Hamilton is more numerically stable than combining many matrix transformations. In control and modelling applications, quaternions do not have a computational singularity (undefined division by zero) that can occur for quarter-turn rotations (90 degrees) that are achievable by many Air, Sea and Space vehicles. In pure mathematics, quaternions show up significantly as one of the four finite-dimensional normed division algebras over the real numbers, with applications throughout algebra and geometry. It is believed by some modern mathematicians that Hamilton's work on quaternions was satirized by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in Alice in Wonderland. In particular, the Mad Hatter's tea party was meant
Campbell Dodgson the War Office; his 1918 CBE was a recognition of this work (DNB, 1941-50 : 216). He was the editor, in the 1920s, of "The Print Collector’s Quarterly". He was also a contributor to the "Burlington Magazine" and to the Dictionary of National Biography. Dodgson married Frances Catherine Spooner, daughter of William Archibald Spooner (Warden of New College and the eponymous author of 'Spoonerisms'), in 1913 (DNB, 1941-50 : 216). Dodgson gave generously to the British Museum during his Keepership, but at the same time amassed a very large collection of over 5,000 prints which he bequeathed to the Museum.