As a graduate of Dublin University, Kirkman was naturally interested when Hamilton published his work on quaternions . Kirkman's interest in mathematics was rapidly increasing and his first paper was presented in 1846 when he was 40 years old.
Bilang isang nagtapos ng Dublin University, Kirkman ay natural na interesado kapag Hamilton-publish na ang kanyang trabaho sa quaternions. Kirkman ng interes sa matematika ay mabilis na pagtaas at ang kanyang unang papel ay ipinapahayag sa 1846 kung kailan siya ay 40 years old.