I remember to have seen an encyclopedia-type-of mathematics book that describes for each topic contained in it when and by who it was invented or when it was first mentioned. I.e. quaternion: Hamilton, Ireland, 1843 ( probably the tree anecdote as well. ) I tried Google Books, Amazon, Google, the Open University Library search, but I can't find it anymore.
Does anyone know which book it could have been? ( It does exist! It was written for an undergraduate audience, if I remember well. )
The book I was looking for is http://books.google.nl/books?id=MfKKMSuthacC&dq=encyclopedia+of+mathematics+james+tanton&source=gbs_navlinks_s The Encyclopedia of Mathematics by James Tanton.