The Atlas of Irish Mathematics: Belfast 1900-1939 (Dec 2021)
The big cities, namely Dublin, Belfast and Cork, and to a lesser extent, Galway, present challenges when one attempts to document their mathematical citizens: the sheer volume of people involved. Hence, in these bi-monthly Atlas of Irish Mathematics blogs, we have been obliged to break things down chronologically. In all cases except Dublin, We've surveyed the requisite careers up to the dawn of the last century, when the numbers were manageable. (In the case of Dublin, we are up to 1800 only.) Now it's time to take the plunge and start to bring things more up to date for Belfast; a university city straddling two counties (Antrim and Down), .
Back in June 2018, we shone a light on over 70 mathematical Belfast people from the 19th century. Most of those documented there either completed their initial degrees or taught in Belfast prior to 1900, a few others were born there (generally prior to 1880) and pursued maths elsewhere.
This month, we move the Belfast story on 40 years, to the eve of WWII. We are aware of over 175 people who need to be documented in this regard, from Lillie Geale to John Herivel. We are lucky to have photos of over 50 of them. A surprisingly large number of women (about 50) are present. In a few cases, where known, we indicated if somebody came from the Down side of the Lagan. There are many instances of people who obtained a pass degree a year or two before the honours BA or BSc indicated below, but these are not noted here.
The people featured who were born in Belfast sometimes attended university in Dublin, Galway, or Cambridge, but a great many of them were graduates of Queen's University Belfast (QUB). For a long time, anyone---including QUB students---could present themselves for examinations (and hence degrees) to the Royal (later the National) University of Ireland, regardless of which (if any) college in Ireland they attended. Indeed, until 1908, this was how all undergraduate QUB degrees were earned.
The matriculated students at Queen's Belfast generally came from various Ulster schools of note, especially the Belfast Royal Academy (the "Inst",founded 1785), the Royal Belfast Academical Institution ("the Inst", whose roots go back to 1810), Methodist College ("Methody", founded 1865), and in due course Victoria College (founded as The Ladies' Collegiate School in 1859) and Campbell College (founded 1894). While we have not indicated which specific school the people listed had attended; sometimes such information is revealed in the links provided.
Many of those featured here did their first degree in mathematical physics (possibly along with experimental physics), and ended up as physicists. The physics department photo here from 1938 is noteworthy:
Back row: J McFadden, DR Bates, ES Cathcart, J Wilson, K Harvey, LS Leech, J Hamilton
Front row: SF Boys, J. Wylie, HSW Massey, KG Emeleus, RA Buckingham, RH Sloane
Of course, many of those highlighted below were QUB grads who were not born in Belfast. While some of them ended up in academia, or teaching at prestigious schools, quite a few served in the civil service, or pursued careers in medicine.
They are all presented in chronological order by birth. The first person listed below continues where we left off in the earlier blog.
Comments and corrections are, as always, welcome. As are more photographs of the forgotten faces from the past. Last updated 5 Sep 2022.
Once more, thanks to Olivia Bree (St Pat's Drumcondra), David Malone (Maynooth), David Spearman (TCD), Mark McCartney (UU), Jim Boyd (Exeter), Carl Murray (Queen Mary London), Robert Northridge (Portora), Dan (Atlanta), Saki (Indiana), and assorted others for assistance with research, and for helping with genealogical digging, image sourcing, and more.
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1. Lillie Geale (1872-1949) was born in Drogheda, Louth, and was first educated at Kelvin House, Belfast (RUI BA 1900). She then taught in Belfast, first at Belmont Ladies College (1900-1901) and then at Girls' High School (Orrington House, 1901-1915-?), which she founded with her sister Edith. She was assistant to AC Dixon on the QUB maths staff (1921-1925), being awarded MA (1923) for a thesis on "The Elastic Curve". Around the same time she was examiner for the Intermediate Examination Board. From 1925 on, she was a tutor for several years. She was the first woman on the maths staff at QUB. |
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2. John Strain (1872-1955) was born 28 December in Belfast, and taught in several schools in England (1897 to at least 1906) during which he earned an RUI degree (BA 1902). By 1909. he had switched to parish work as a clergyman in NE England. |
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3. George Thompson (1876-1945) was born 19 Aug in Jubbulpore (Madhya Pradesh), India, and grew up in Londonderry. He was educated at Cambridge (Sidney Sussex, 14th wrangler BA 1900) and also at RUI (BSc 1901, MA 1902). He taught at Campbell College (1900-1910), Harrow School (1910-1912) and Gresham's School in Norfolk (1912-1936). He married a Girton maths tripos woman. 1901 Census / Bio / Sextic / Grave |
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4. George Walmsley (1877-??) was born in England, and was educated at Manchester (BSc 1908, MSc 1909). After one year teaching at Ashbourne Grammar School in Derbyshire, he settled at the new Belfast Municipal Technical Institution (1910-1924-?). |
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5. Hugh Erwin (1878-1957) was born 5 May in Crankill, Ahoghill, Antrim, just west of Ballymena. He was educated at QUB (BA 1904), having already taught briefly in Carrigfergus. After teaching in England and in New South Wales, Australia, he spent the bulk of his career at Christ College and Hutchins School in Tasmania (1912-1946).
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6. William Hawthorne (1878-1957) was born 1 August in Kirkcubbin, Down, and was educated at QUB (BA 1901, BE 1903). His career was as an electrical engineer, mostly working on railways, in Down, England, South America and South Africa. |
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7. John McDonnell (1879-?) was born 4 June in Randalstown, Antrim, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1900). |
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9. Robert Houston (1880-1955, younger brother of mathematician William) was born 2 February in Ballyclabber, Coleraine, Londonderry, and was educated at QUB (BA 1901). His career was spent in the British Admiralty. |
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10. Molly Acheson (later Faris, 1880-1958) was born 12 June in Portadown, Armagh, and was educated at Girton (BA earned 1904). She taught in Belfast until her 1919 marriage to Samuel Faris. In 1907 TCD awarded her an ad eundem MA. She and her sister below married two brothers. |
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11. Doctor Robert Jamison (1880-1943) was born 7 September in Ballyrush, near Comber, Down. He was educated at QUB (BA 1900, MD 1908?) and spent his entire career as a doctor in Swaziland. |
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12. Cecilia Ryan (1880-1962) was born 19 October in Ballieborough, Cavan. She was educated at the RUI (BA 1903 via study at St Mary's, Belfast) and UCD (BSc & MA 1913). She taught in Dublin (1902-1906), Belfast (1906-1916) and again in Dublin. She was the first maths graduate from St Mary's. MacTutor / 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Grave / Davis |
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13. Harold Dilworth (1881-1912) was born 6 March in St Ives, Cambridge, and grew up there and in Belfast, Dundalk, and Portarlington. He was educated at TCD (BA & gold medal 1904, MA 1908), and then taught there. He moved to Silver Spring, New Mexico, USA, in 1910, and taught there briefly before dying of TB. 1901 Census / Grave / Obit |
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14. James Cole (1879-1957) was born 18 Nov in Ballymena, Antrim. He was educated at Queen's Galway (BA 1901) and at Galway and Belfast (MA 1904). After a couple of years teaching at Methody, he became an inspector of national schools (1907-1946)--including stints in Galway, Cavan, and Belfast. |
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15. Joseph Smyth (1872-1944) was educated at Kelvin House, Belfast (RUI BA 1902). In 1908 he was appointed as a national school inspector.???
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16. Herbert Gibson (1881-1961) was born 21 March in Ballywater, Down. He was educated at QUB (BA 1902) and at Cambridge (Queen's, BA 1903). In 1911 he was teaching in Dublin, later he worked in the civil service in South Africa. |
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17. George Leathem (1881-1953?) was born 21 Dec in Belfast, younger brother of mathematician John. he was educated at QUB (BA 1903) and at Cambridge (St John's. 19th wrangler 1904). His career was spent in the civil service in India. |
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18. Richard Beatty (1882-1941) was born 26 April in Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at first at Queen's Belfast (BA 1904, BE 1905, MA 1906). He taught physics at QUB, and also studied at Cavensish Lab in Cambridge. In WWII he was in the British Admiralty. 1901 Census / Nature / Link |
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19. William McAdam (1882-1938) was born 9 July in Dunadry, east of Antrim town, and was educated at QUB (BA 1907, MA 1909). He taught at the Royal Belfast Academical Institute at first, and from 1919 on, at the Cowbridge Grammar School west of Cardiff in Wales. |
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20. James Ball (1882-1957) was born 24 July in Youghal, Cork, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BA 1904, BE 1906). He first taught at Methodist College (1906-1908), then worked as an engineer, including extensive stints in India and Nigeria. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Obit1 / Obit2 |
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21. Annie Kennedy (1882-1956) was born 18 August in Kildowney, Ahoghill, north of Ballymena, Antrim. She was educated at QUB (BA 1904, MA in mental & moral science 1907). Part of her career was spent in publishing in Belfast. |
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22. Doctor Barkley McCullough (1882-1957) was born 22 November in Ballyhenry, Antrim, on the outskirts of Newtownabbey, and was educated at QUB (BA 1904, MD? 1910). His career was spent as a doctor, first in Sudan and Nigeria, and finally in the Dublin Medical Mission. 1901 Census / Campbell / Missions / Grave |
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23. Hilda Martin (1883-1965) was born 1 May in Dublin and grew up there and in Belfast. She was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1904). She published a note in Nature with William Morton. She attended Cambridge Training College, and taught at Bedford Girl's Modern School (1906-1915-?). In the 1930s she moved from Bedford back to Belfast. 1901 Census / Paper / Teaching |
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24. James Riddell (1883-1951) was born 15 May in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1903, MA 1907). His career included a stint at QUB as Purser assistant in maths, followed by decades of teaching in Stoke-on-Trent in England. |
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25. James Dick (1883-1955) was born 15 May in Islandmagee, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (pass BA 1911). After a spell of teaching at Malvern St NS in Belfast, he became an inspector of schools, including stints in Tipperary, Carlow, and Dublin. |
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26. Engineer Thomas Matthewman (1883-1956) was born in August in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and was educated at Liverpool (BEng 1903, MEng 1911). He taught physics, EE, and maths at Nanyang C (Shanghai), Univ Hong Kong, Belfast Municipal Tech Inst (1920-??), and then for many years in various Indian colleges. In 1935, he applied to head up Belfast Municipal Tech Inst. |
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27. Minnie McKee (later Capper, 1883-1975) was born 12 October in Lurgan, Armagh. She was educated at QUB (BA 1906). Married who/when? In 1908 she moved to Canada, dying in Montreal. |
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28. Margaret Harper (1883-1922, sister of Edgar, and of Victor below) was born 24 October in Dungannon, Tyrone. She taught in Newquay (Cornwall, 1904-1906) and then attended QUB. After a year teaching in Ballymena (1910-1911) she taught in England again (Cumbria) till at least 1918. She died young. |
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29. Bridget Condon (aka Sr Celestine) (1884-1969) was born 2 January in Ballinure, Tipperary. She was educated at QUB (BA 1904), and did her teacher training at St Mary's. Her career started teaching in national schools in Tipperary and Cork, She then became a reverend mother, and later prioress/abbess, for the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. |
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30. Doctor Norman Graham (1884-1986) was born 11 September in Tattygar, Enniskillen, Fermanagh, and grew up there and in Comber, Down. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1906, MD 1913??). His career was spent as a doctor. |
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31. William Bartley (1885-1961) was born 3 January in Belfast, and was educated at TCD (BA 1907??). His career in the civil service was spent in Borneo, Malaysia, and Singapore. He died in Australia. |
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32. Clinical pathologist Sinclair Miller (1885-1961) was born 19 March in Cloughfin, west of Cookstown, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1908, MA 1910, BSc 1912, MB & BCh 1914). After WWI service he continued medical studies at London Hospital (DPH 1919, MD 1922, MRCP 1923). The rest of his career was spent in Harrogate, Yorks, where his expertise included rheumatism and diabetes and he set up early blood transfusion facilities. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Our Heroes / UK Nat Archives / BMJ / Plaque |
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33. William Shaw (1885-1918) was born 20 July in Belfast, and grew up there and in Bangor, Down. He was educated at QUB (BA 1907, BE?), and worked as an engineer until enlisting in WWI, later dying in Ypres. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Grave / Obit |
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34. George Hoey (1885-1960) was born 17 September in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BE, BA 1905). His career was spent as an engineer in India. |
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35. Grace Acheson (later Faris, 1885-1973) was born 17 December in Portadown, Armagh, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1907, MA 1909). She taught English and classics as well as maths at Victoria College (1909-1912) until her marriage to George Faris, and again (1925-1951) following his early death, rising to the rank of headmistress. Her son John Faris (1913-2011) below was a logician at QUB. She and her sister above married brothers. |
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36. William Kirkpatrick (1886?-??, Ardbrook) was born in Ballymena (?) and was educated at QUB (BA 1908). Nothing more is known. |
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37. Doctor and radiologist Maitland Beath (1886-1940) was born 17 October in Belfast, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1907, MB, BCh & BAO 1914). His career included Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Union Infirmary. and lecturing in dental radiology at QUB. 1901 Census / BJR / UMJ / Death |
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38. Anna Patterson (1887-1966) was born 27 January in Cookstown, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB & Victoria College (BA 1909). She later taught in Lancashire, England. |
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39. Victor Harper (1887-1964, brother of Edgar and of Margaret above) was born 13 February in Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BA, 1908). He taught in England at first, and then at Campbell College (Belfast, 1915-1922). He spent the next 30 years as the headmaster of Lurgan College. 1901 Census / Campbell / Lurgan / Obit |
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40. Jane Molyneux (later Dziewulski, 1887-1920) was born 20 March in Liverpool, and grew up there and in Belfast, her Antrim born father having become Belfast harbour master in 1893. She was educated at QUB (BA, 1906, BSc & MA 1908), following which she studied in Germany for a year. She lectured on physics back at QUB (1909-1910 & 1917-1919), and published a paper in French on Zeeman Triplets (1912). In August 1919, she married Polish physicist Wacław Dziewulski who had just spent a year at QUB. Sadly, she died young in Warsaw the next August, following childbirth. 1901 Census / 1909 / 1912A / 1912B / 1920 / Son & Death / Grave First woman to get maths MA from Queen's, Belfast (1908) First Irish woman maths grad to lecture in physics at third level. First Irish woman maths grad to pursue research on the continent (in physics). |
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41. Frederick Scott (1887-1972) was born in 31 March in Omagh, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BA 1908, ME 1910). His career was spent as a civil engineer, mostly in South Africa, and his legacy includes several publications. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Paper / Dam |
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42. Doctor Billy Lynd (1887-1947) was born 9 April in Drumsteeple, Aghadowey, Londonderry, He was educated at QUB (BA 1908, MD??) and spent his career as a doctor, first in Belfast and then in Cheshire. |
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43. David Cole (1887-1957) was born 30 August in Glenavy, Antrim, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at TCD (scholar, BA in maths and history & poly sci 1910, Bishop Law Prize 1911). His career was spent in the army, during which he authored several books. TCD awarded him LittD in 1935. He married Charlotte Wedgwood below. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Obit / Books |
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44. Physicist and crystallographer Paul Ewald (1888-1985) was born 23 Jan Berlin, Germany, and was mostly educated at Göttingen and München (PhD 1912). His career included positions at München (1912-1921), Stuttgart (1921-1933), Cambridge (1937-1939), QUB (1939-1949) and the Polytech Institute of Brooklyn (1949-1959). |
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45. Doctor James Boyd (1888-1963, brother of Maggie and Elizabeth below) was born 9 February in Ballyreagh, Dunaghy, east of Ballymoney, Antrim, and grew up there and in Down. He was educated at QUB (BA 1908, MA & BSc 1910, MB, BCh & BAO 1916, MD 1923). He had taught maths at the Sorbonne before turning to medicine, and also taught the subject at Bradfield College in Berkshire (1919-1921) while also serving as medical officer. He then worked in Wales until 1930, and ended up in the Northern Ireland Ministry of Health, rising to the rank of CMO. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1951 / BMJ |
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46. James Brown (1888-1968) was born 18 November in Belfast, and was educated at TCD (BA 1911). His career was spent in the civil service in India. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1947 / Who's Who |
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47. Jim Murphy (1888-1939) was born 23 August in Sion Mills, Strabane, Tyrone, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at University of London (BA, 1912) and later at QUB (MSc 1924), with a thesis on "Mathematical Study of Time and Temperature in the Earth". He taught at Belfast Mercantile College (1912 on), North Mon, Cork (1912-1921) and Belfast Municipal College of Technology (1921-1939). |
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48. Sydney Mytton (1889-1954) was born 5 May in England and grew up there and in Holywood, Down. He was educated at QUB (BA 1909) and the University of London (BSc 1912) and spent his career as an accountant in London and Dublin. |
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49. Obstetrician and gynaecologist (William) McKim McCullagh (1889-1964) was born 12 October in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1910, MB BCh BAO 1913). After WWI, he worked in several London hospitals, and eventually had a Harley St practice. He published extensively, invented some gynaecological instruments, and was a foundation member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Bio / Papers 1 / Papers 2 |
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50. Charlotte Wedgwood (later Cole, 1890-1973) was born 5 May in Belfast, and grew up there and in Dublin. She was educated at QUB (BA 1911), and is known to have done tutoring after that. She married TCD maths grad David Cole (above) in Belfast in 1916. She died in Hampshire. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1912 / Husband |
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51. Herbert Turner (1890-??) was born 13 August in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1912?). |
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52. Mary Darragh (later Montgomery, 1891-1980) was born 4 January in Coleraine, Londonderry and grew up there and in Carrigfergus and Belfast. She was educated at QUB (BSc 1912, MSc 1913). Her master's thesis on "Combination Tones" was done under William Morton; the pair published a related paper on the theory of hearing in 1914. She taught at Princess Gardens School (1914-) and Methodist College (-1916-1918-) in Belfast. She married Thomas Montgomery in 1924. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1914 / Paper First Irish woman in maths with master's thesis (in applied maths, 1913). |
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53. Ellie Harvey (1891-1923) was born 30 March in Drumbeg, Lisburn, Down. She was educated at QUB (BA 1913, MA 1914). Her master's thesis was on "Applications of Nomography to Discontinuous Liquid Motions". No career information is known. She died young. |
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54. Owen McKenna (aka Eóghan MacCionnaith, 1891-1967) was born 13 December in Millstreet, Cork. He was educated at UCC (BA 1912, MA 1916) and at Univ London (BSc 1919, MSc 1924). He taught in Glasgow and Belfast (1912-1920), and lectured at Belfast Municipal College of Technology (1920-1928). He then joined the staff at UCG, where he lectured on maths and maths physics in English and Irish (1928-1961). Bio / Aimn / Grave / 1901 Census / Podcast |
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55. Maggie Boyd (later Dabner, 1892-1962, sister of James above and Elizabeth below) was born 3 January in Ballyreagh, Dunaghy, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1913, MSc 1914, teaching diploma 1915 or 1916). Her master's thesis was on "Propagation of Large Disturbances and of Discontinuities through a Gas" with William Morton. In 1924, she married and moved to Huddersfield, Yorkshire for the rest of her life. |
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56. James Vint (1892-1973??) was born 15 August in Muckamore Grange, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1913, MA 1914). He was on the staff at QUB until moving to Bristol (1921-1958). |
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57. Daniel McKeown (1895??-1967) was born in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1915). He taught at Waterpark College (Waterford, 1916-1917) and at St Columb's (Derry, 1917-1923) before returning to his old school / St Malachy's (Belfast, 1923-1960). He also wrote plays. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1948 / Obit |
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58. Doctor James Martin (1893-1984) was born 11 June in Jordanstown, Antrim. He was educated at QUB (BA 1915, MA 1918, MD 1922). His career was spent as a doctor in London. His second wife was Janet Nichols below. |
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59. Edwin Frizelle (1894-1915) was born 26 January in Ballysaggart, Dungannnon, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BA 1913, MA 1914). He intended pursuing medicine, but enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action at the Dardanelles in August 1915. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Bio / QUB |
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60. Margaret Kennedy (1894-1978) was born 22 January in Pleasurestep, Ballymoney, Antrim, and grew up in Portstewart, Londonderry. She was educated at QUB (BSc 1914). Her career was spent teaching, first as part of the Zanana Presbyterian Mission in private girls' schools in Bombay and New Delhi (1919-1929), and at the Trafalgar Institute in Montreal (1930-1932), then back at Cranagh House, Coleraine. She later taught in Portballintra (Antrim) and at the Masonic School in Belfast. |
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61. Janet Nichols (later Ferguson, then Martin, 1894-1978) was born 15 April in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BA 1914, MA 1915), and at the University of London (BSc 1916). Rumours of a first from Cambridge seem unreliable. She married Reuter's correspondent Fergus Ferguson in Turkey 1919, and James Martin above in 1949. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Link / Daughter |
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62. Amy Woods (later Rentoul, 1894-1980) was born 10 November in Downpatrick, Down. She was educated at QUB (BA 1917, BSc 1918, MSc 1919, MA 1921). Both masters were by thesis, the first on "Work on Diffraction Grating" and the second (under William Morton) on "The Graphical Solution of Differential Equations of the First Order and First Degree". She was appointed demonstrator of physics at QUB in 1917 and also served as lecturer in maths till at least 1922. She married in 1925, and spent most of the rest of her life in Truro, Cornwall. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1916 / 1918 / 1921 / |
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63. Margaret Caughey (later Spence, 1895-1975) was born 9 January in Newtownards, Down, and was educated at TCD (pass BA 1917). She taught maths at Methodist College (1917-1927). |
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64. Doctor Maurice Goldblatt (1895-1967) was born 2 July in Manchester, England, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BA 1915, MD 1925) and at the University of London (PhD 1929). His career was spent as a medical researcher of note in London, Manchester and Milan. 1911 Census / BJR / BMJ / Wikiwand |
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65. David O'Neill (1896 to at least 1963) was born 16 November in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1917). His career was spent in missionary work in Nigeria. |
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66. Elizabeth Boyd (1897-1988, sister of James and Maggie above) was born 13 April in Belfast. She was educated at QUB (BA 1918, HDip 1920). Her whole career was spent teaching at Methodist College (1919-1962). 1901 Census / 1911 Census / 1955
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67. William Boggs (1897-1990) was born 3 March in Bree, Malin, Donegal, and was educated at QUB (BA 1918). His career was spent as a teacher, first at Friends' School Lisburn, and then at Newtown School Waterford. |
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68. Thomas Fazackerley (1898-1974) was born 28 April in Hindley, Lancashire, and was educated at Manchester (BSc 1921, MSc 1925). After 2 years on the staff at Imperial College, he moved to Belfast, to teach at Methodist College (1927-1937). He was then appointed headmaster at Rainey, in Magherafelt (1937-1958). He was a co-founder of the Mathematical Association of Northern Ireland. |
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69. Leo Close (1899-1971) was born 25 February in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1919, MA 1920). His master's thesis was on "Contact of Elastic Bodies". After teaching for 3 years at St Malachy's, the rest of his career was spent as a school inspector in Dublin (1923-1964). 1901 Census / 1911 Census / EMS / Son / Grave
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70. Alfred Williams (1899-1976) was born 11 May in Dubin, and was educated at TCD (BA 1921, MA, LLD 1962). He was a school inspector who later became permanent secretary for education for Northern Ireland. |
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71. (Sara) Eveline Tomlinson (1900-1970) was born 14 September in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1922, MSc in physics 1923). Her master's thesis on "Dynamics of the Top and Calculation of Path of Axis for a Given Top" was done under William Morton. Her career included stints as a lecturer, teaching in India and South Africa. |
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72. Doctor Charles Dowling (1900-1964) was born 11 December in Ballymena and was educated at QUB (BA 1922, MB 1927). He practiced in Lurgan before moving to California in 1947. He earned an MD and practiced medicine there. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Family / Death / Grave |
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73. Mary McDonald (1900-1931) was born 31 December in Loughries, east of Newtownards, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1921, MSc 1922). Her master's thesis on "Electrification of Prisms" was done with William Morton. In late 1927, she went to work as a missionary at Wesleyan Missionary Methodist College in Colombo, Ceylon, dying 4 years later of heart failure. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Death / "Grave" |
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74. Florence Chambers (later Emeléus, 1901-1993) was born 22 May in east Belfast, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1921, MSc 1922). Her master's thesis on "Recent Work on the Vibrations of Strings" was done with William Morton. She was on the physics staff there and published several papers, until marrying George Emeléus below. |
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75. Victoria Armstrong (1901-??) was born 1 June in Ballymena, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1923). She may have taught at the Ballymena Academy. |
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76. Physicist K. G. (George) Emeléus (1901-1989) was born 4 August in London, and was educated at first at Cambridge (BA in physics 1922). He then worked in the Cavendish Lab with James Chadwick and later Edward Appleton. His Cambridge PhD (1926) on "Methods for Studying Single Ionizing Particles" was completed at King's College, London, where his advisor Edward Appleton had moved. He then settled at QUB for his entire career (1927-1966), in time serving as dean. He was married to Florence Chambers above. He had numerous PhD students and is remembered for his book The Conduction of Electricity through Gases (1929, 1936, 1951). DIB / Physics Today / BBC / Bio / 1966 |
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77. Billy Cameron (1901-1938) was born 24 August in Carrigfergus, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1923, MSc in physics 1924). He was on the staff at Sheffield from 1926 to his untimely death. He is remembered for Cameron rings. 1911 Census / Bio / Rings |
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78. Anatomist, biomechanics pioneer and academic Michael MacConaill (1902-1987) was born 27 July in Woodvale, Ballymena, Antrim. He was educated in medicine at QUB (MB, BCh & BAO 1925, MSc in anatomy 1928) and lectured at Sheffield for a dozen years before becoming Prof of Anatomy at UCC (1942-1973). From the early 1930s on, he published a lot on applying maths, physics and engineering principles to the study of human joints; he is regarded as a pioneer of biomechanics. He also applied catenary curves to dental arches, and Boolean algebra to neuronal networks. 1901 Census / Wikipedia / DIB / UCC |
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79. Ralph Cooper (1903-1979) was born 6 July in Hull, Yorkshire, England, and was educated at Cambridge (BA 1924, MA ?) and at Oxford (DPhil 1927). His thesis on "1. Inequalities Applicable To The Theory Of Functions. 2. Diophantine Approximation" was done under J. E. Littlewood. He spent 35 years on the staff at QUB (1931-1966), culminating in the publication of the book Functions of Real Variables: A Course of Advanced Calculus. |
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80. Physicist Ernest Walton (1903-1995) was born 6 October in Dungarvan, Waterford, and grew up mostly in Limerick, Down, Tyrone and Belfast. He was educated first at TCD (BA 1926, MSc 1927 by thesis under JL Synge). At Cambridge, he engaged in research which culminated in a PhD under Ernest Rutherford in 1931. His "splitting the atom" with John Cockroft lead to the two men later sharing a Nobel prize. He lectured at TCD for 4 decades, from 1946–1974 as Erasmus Smith's Prof of Natural & Experimental Philosophy. 1911 Census / Nobel / Wikipedia / TCD |
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81. John McDonnell (1904-??) was born 17 March in Ballycastle, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1925, BSc in maths physics 1926). His career included teaching at Ballycastle High School. |
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82. Jack Semple (1904-1985) was born 10 June in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1925) and at Cambridge (1925-1927), culminating in a PhD ("Surfaces Of Intersection Of Cubic Primals. 2.Cubic Cremona Transformations Of 4-D Space") with Henry Baker in 1930. He lectured at QUB (1930-1936) and at King's College, London (1936-1969), and co-authored 3 books on algebraic geometry. |
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83. Writer Michael McLaverty (1904-1992) was born 5 July in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1927, HDip 1929, MSc 1933). His master's thesis was on " Earlier Work on the Passage of Electricity through Gases". He taught maths and physics at St John's PED for decades before ending his career as headmaster at St Thomas. (Thanks to Eddie O'Kane.) |
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84. Winifred Greene (1904-??) was born 24 September in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1926). Her career included teaching. |
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85. Physicist Bill McCrea (1904-1999) was born 13 December in Dublin but grew up in Kent and Derbyshire in England. He was educated at Cambridge (BA 1926, PhD 1930) and Göttingen (1928-1929). His thesis on "Problems Concerning the Outer Layers of the Sun" was done under Ralph Fowler. His career started at Edinburgh (1930-1931), Imperial College (1931-1936) and QUB (1936-1943). He then moved to Royal Holloway College (1944-1966), and later Sussex (1966-1971). He discovered that the sun is largely made of hydrogen and helium. He was awarded an honorary DSc by NUI in 1954. Wikipedia / MacTutor / RSBM / ISM / Sussex / Princeton / RSE |
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86. Francis O'Neill (1905-??) was born 22 April in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1926) and at Cambridge (BA?). He taught at Belfast Institute of Technology.
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87. Martha Lutton (1905-1939) was born 20 May in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1926). No more is known. |
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88. Arthur Patterson (1905??-) was educated at QUB (BA 1928) and at Cambridge (St John's, tripos part II 1929). He had won a 3-year Lord Kitchener Memorial Scholarship. He firat taught at Methodist College, then joined the civil service in London. |
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89. William Wilson Bruce (1905-?) was born 16 August in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BSc 1926, MSc 1927). His thesis was on "Action of a Particle in a Newtonian Field". No career information is known.
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90. Sam Verblunsky (1906-1996) was born 25 June in London, and was educated at Cambridge (Magdalene BA 1927, PhD 1930). His thesis on "Researches In The Theory Of Fourier Series" was done under J.E. Littlewood. He was at Manchester until after WWII, then settled at QUB for the rest of his career. He published a great deal and supervised 4 PhD students/ |
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91. William Browne (1906??-??) was educated at QUB (BA 1927).
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92. John McLaughlin (1907-??) was born 18 January in Cranfield, Antrim, near Randalstown, and grew up there and in Omagh, Tyrone. He was educated at QUB (BA 1927). No career information is known. |
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93. William L Brown (1906?-??) was born in Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1927, MSc 1928). His thesis on "Groups of Electrons in the Geissler Discharge" was done with KG Emeléus.
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94. James Larmour (1906-1989) was born 22 May in east Belfast, Down, and was educated at QUB (BA 1927) and at Cambridge (BA 1929). Christ's Hospital, he taught for many decades at Rugby School in England. |
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95. James T. Rea (1907?-??) was educated at QUB (BA 1928). |
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96. Thomas E. Megaw (1907?-??) was educated at QUB (BSc 1928). |
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97. Hugh Combe (1907-1984) was born 18 October in Belfast, and grew up there and in Dublin. He was educated at QUB (BA 1928, MA 1930). His career included teaching at Municipal College of Technology and QUB, and at Stranmillis (at least 1947 to 1969). He authored 3 school text books, including Relations and Functions. 1911 Census / 1960 / Books |
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98. Robert Simpson (1907-1984) was born 19 October in Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BA 1929) and at Cambridge (MA). He was headmaster at Omagh Academy for over 3 decades. |
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99. Bill Loughery (1907-1977) was born 1 November in Dromore, Down, and was educated at TCD (scholar, BA 1930). He taught at Campbell College (1930-1934), and then at Rugby in Warwickshire (1934 to at least 1949). He is remembered as a cricketer. 1911 Census / Wikipedia / Cricket
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100. Astronomer Eric Lindsay (1908-1995) was born 26 January in the Grange, near Portadown, Armagh. He was educated in physics at QUB (BSc 1928, MSc 1929) and at Harvard (PhD 1934). His thesis on "The Distribution in the Southern Sky of the Stars Brighter than the Thirteenth Magnitude" was done under Bart Bok. After a few years at Boyden Station (South Africa), he became the 7th director of the Armagh Observatory (1937-1974). He played a key role in the establishment of the planetarium there. He also lectured at QUB. |
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101. Llewellyn Griffith (1908-??) was born 24 January in Newtownards, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1929, MA 1930). His career included teaching at the Belfast Technical College and at QUB. |
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102. Kevin Killeen (1908-1995) was born 26 April in Carrowmore, near Claremorris, Mayo, and grew up close by in Hollymount. He was educated at UCG (BComm 1927, BA 1928, MA 1929), winning the first NUI Travelling Studentship Prize there. After a few years on the staff at QUB (1929-1933), and a year as a school inspector (1934-1935), his career was spent in vocational education, first in Wicklow and Wexford, and then for over 30 years in Waterford (1941-1973). 1911 Census / 1941 / Hon degree / Grave |
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103. Henry Yates (1908-1954) was born 5 May in Nenagh, Tipperary, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at TCD (scholar 1927, BA 1930, MA 1933), and taught there till 1933. He then worked for the English Electric Company in Rugby (1933-1944) and subsequently at the Parsons and Marine Engineering Turbine Research and Development Association in Newcastle-on-Tyne (1944-1954), dying comparatively young. |
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104. Theorerical physicist Harrie Massey (1908-1983) was born 16 May in Invermay, Victoria, Ausralia. He was educated at Melbourne (BSc 1919, MSc 1929) and at Cambridge (PhD 1932). His thesis on "The Collision of Material Particles" was done with Ralph Fowler. He was at QUB (1933-1938) and then University College London (1938-1975). He wrote severalbooks including Negative Ions (1938, 1950, 1976). His doctoral students included David Bates, Alex Dalgarno, Benno Moiseiwitsch, and Phil Burke, all of whom would have considerable influence at QUB, In 1955, QUB awarded him an honorary DSc. |
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105. Robert Eaton (1908-1999 or 2000) was born 29 June in Holywood, Down, and was educated at QUB (BA 1935). His teaching career included a period at Banbridge Academy. |
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106. Physicist (Robert) Harbinson Sloane (1908- at least 1957) was born 14 August in Tullyveery, north of Downpatrick, Down. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1929, MSc 1930, DSc 1937). His master's thesis was on "Recombination: with Special Reference to the Negative Glow of the Glow Discharge in Argon " and his doctoral thesis was on "The Spectroscopy and Electrical Analysis of Ionized Gases". His career was spent on the staff at QUB. 1911 Census / 1939 / 1948
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107. Mabel Mulligan (1908-??) was born 29 October in Ballymena, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1930).
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108. Thomas MacDonald was born 27 December n Comber, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1929, MSc 1930). |
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109. Lena McAleese (later Porter, 1909-1975-?) was born 9 February, in Craigs, Ballymena, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1930, MSc 1931). Her master's thesis done under Jack Semple was on "An Investigation of Line Congruencies with Special Reference to Those of the Second Order ". Her career included teaching at Cullybackey School (1924-1926).
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110. William O’Riordan (1909-??) was born 7 March in Kerrib, near Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BA 1930, MA 1934). |
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111. Gwyn "Johnny" Blunt (1909-??) was born in July in Nantyglo, Wales, and was educated at Cambridge (BA, 1930). From the mid 1930s on, he taught at the Belfast Royal Academical Institute. 1930 |
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112. (Jane) Margaret White (1909-1975) was born 5 June in Aughadark, Bawnboy, Leitrim, grew up there and in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1932). She taught maths at Victoria College for over 30 years, [Photo courtesy of Victoria College Belfast] 1911 Census / Hockey / Obit |
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113. Caoimhghin O Catháin (aka Kevin O'Kane, 1911-1986) was born 23 June in Belfast, and grew up there and in Dublin. He was educated at UCD (BA 1932). His career was spent as a tax inspector, in Galway, Cork, and Dublin. |
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114. Janet Gillies (1911-1997) was born 17 October in Ballymena, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1932). No career information is known. |
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115. Florence Berryman (1910-1994) was born 28 March in Armagh town, and was educated at QUB (BA 1939, MA 1931). Her master's thesis done under William Morton was on "Recent Researches on Solids in Motion in Fluids". No career information is known. |
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116. Mary McCartney (1910??-??) was educated at QUB (BA 1931). Nothing else is known. |
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117. Alexander MacDonald (1910-??) was born 19 October in Derry city, Londonderry, and was educated at QUB (BA 1932, MA 1933). No career information is known.
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118. Elizabeth M. Brown (1911-?? ) was born 13 January in Ballycarn, Down (between Belfast and Lisburn), and was educated at QUB (BSc 1934). No career information is known. |
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118. Mary Colville (1911-??) was born 4 February in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1932). |
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120. Nan Savage (1911-1992) was born 26 February in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BSc 1933). She first taught at Victoria College and then Rainey School, before settling at Belfast Royal Acad Inst (1943-1976). 1911 Census / Bio / Bio / Award |
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121. John McClenahan (1911-1959) was born 3 March in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BSc 1932). He taught maths in Belfast. |
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122. Robert Campbell (1911??-??) was educated at QUB (BA 1932).
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123. Jack Todd (1911-2007) was born 16 May in Carnacally, Down, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at first at QUB (BA 1931). After 2 years studying with Littlewood at Cambridge, he taught at QUB and at King's College, London. Following several years at the Admiralty, during the war, he moved to the USA, where he spent a decade at the National Bureau of Standards. The rest of his career was spent at Caltech, where he supervised 5 PhDs and wrote 2 books. He was an early proponent of using computers to do numerical mathematics. His efforts in the 1940s helped to ensure the preservation of the Oberwolfach Mathematical Research Institute in Germany. |
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124. Dick Buckingham (1911-1992) was born 17 July in Norwich, England, and was educated at Cambridge (BA physics 1935, PhD 1937+). His thesis on "Some Problems Arising from the Interactions of Atoms with Atoms, Electrons and Radiation" was done under Ralph Fowler. His career started in mathematical physics at QUB (1935-1938) and University College London (1938-1940). Following war work in ballistics at Woolwich, he returned to UCL where, in time, he focussed on numerical analysis maths and CS. His final years in academia were spent in CS education at Birkbeck (1973-1978). Alex Dalgarno (later of QUB) was a PhD student of his. |
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125. Joe Gillis (1911-1992) was born August in Sunderland, England, and was educated at Cambridge (BA 1931, PhD 1935). His thesis on " Some Geometrical Properties of Linearly Measurable Plane Sets of Point" was done under Abrah Besicovitch. He was at QUB (1937-1947), including a wartime stint at Bletchley, until he co-founded the Department of Applied Mathematics |
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126. James E. McF Johnston (1911-2006) was born 15 December in east Belfast, Down, and was educated at first at QUB (BSc 1933). He worked as a physicist at Malvern, and....had a PhD?? |
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127. Mathematical chemist (Samuel) Frank Boys (1911-1962) was born 20 December in Pudsey, Yorkshire, England, and was educated at first in chemistry at Imperial College (BSc 1932). His 1937+ PhD on "The Quantum Theory of Optical Rotation" was done at Cambridge under Martin Lowry and then John Lennard-Jones, He taught maths physics at QUB (1938-1940), followed by a return to Imperial (1945-1949) after WWII. The rest of his career was spent at Cambridge. Wikipedia / Royal Soc / Link1 /Link2
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128. John Harding (1911-1985??) was born 22 December in Belfast, and was educated in physics at TCD (BA 1934, MSc 1936). He spent over 35 years in the British meteorology service, including a spell (1937-1939) "on loan" at Foynes, followed by a term at the Institute of Oceaonographic Science.
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129. Eliza Brown (1912-?? ) was born 20 January in Ballymurphy, Newtownards, Down, and was educated at QUB (BA 1934). No career information is known. |
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130. Sean Murphy (1912-??) was born 17 March in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BSc 1934). No career information is known.
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131. William Eakin (1912-1983) was born 11 August in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1933, MSc 1940). His thesis on "Some Problems Connected with the Statistics of Meteors" followed a few yeas teaching at Ballymena Academy. The rest of his career was spent at the ministry of education in Belfast (at least 1947-1977), where he rose to the rank of chief officer.
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132. Alfred Gwilliam (1912-1984) was born in Wigan, England, and was educated nearby at Liverpool (BSc 1932) and at Cambridge (PhD 1935). His thesis on "Some Problems In The Theory Of Functions" was done under J. E. Littlewood. He taught at Methody in Belfast (1935-1944), and then for many decades at Rainey,in Magherafelt. |
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133. Agnes Chambers (later Nash, 1912-2001) was born 28 July in Downpatrick, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1933). She worked for the UK Met Service starting in 1944 |
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134. Physicist James Sayers (1912-1993) was born 2 September and was educated at QUB (Bsc 1933, MSc 1934) and at Cambridge (St John's).
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135. Peter Donnelly (1912??-??) was educated at QUB (BSc 1934). Nothing further is known. |
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136. Thomas Houston (1913-1942) was born 4 January in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (1933) and Cambridge (BA 1936). His very short career was spent in the civil service in Hong Kong. |
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137. Marion Heanen (1913-1970) was born 17 January in Downpatrick, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1934). She taught at King's Norton Secondary School in Birmingham. |
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138. Alfie Scott (1913-1980) was born 8 February in Belfast, and was educated at TCD (BA 1936), where he taught until 1947. |
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139. Mathematical logician John Faris (son of Grace Acheson above, 1913-2011) was born 15 March in Caledon, south of Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at Oxford (MA 1936). His entire career was spent at QUB (1936-1978). His books included Truth-Functional Logic (1962) and Quantification Theory (1964). |
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140. Bill Stephens (1913-2001) was born 18 March in Gowran, Kilkennny, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BA 1934, MA 1935). His thesis was on "Collisions of Slow Electrons with Organic Molecules". His career was spent as a leader in ballistics in Britain. |
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141. James Tipping (1913-??) was born 18 April in Castledawson, Londonderry, near Magherafelt. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1934). His career was spent at the Belfast Royal Acad Inst (1937-1975), where in later years he served as vice principal. |
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142. Philosopher Edmund Furlong (1913-1996) was born 20 April in Belfast, and grew up there, in Kilkenny, and in Dublin. He was educated at TCD (schol 1933, BA 1935), and spent his career there. He did advanced study at Oxford (1937-1938). |
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143. Rachel Sullivan (later Chussodovsky, 1913-1996) was born 23 April in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1935, MSc 1936). Her thesis on "The Quantum Theory of Transport Phenomena" was done with Harrie Massey. She first taught at the Omagh Academy, and then at QUB (1943-?). |
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144. Muriel Wales (nee Kennett, 1913-2009) was born 9 June in Belfast, and soon thereafter her mother relocated to Vancouver, in British Columbia, and remarried. Hence Muriel acquired the name Wales. She was educated at first at the University of British Columbia (BS 1934, MS 1937), her master's thesis on "Determination of Bases for Certain Quartic Number Fields" been done with Knowlen. Her University of Toronto PhD (1941) on "Theory of Algebraic Functions Based on the Use of Cycles" was done with Sam Beatty. She then worked in the Canadian atomic energy programme, in Toronto and in Montreal, but by the end of the 1940s she had left mathematics entirely. For several years she was believed to have been the earliest Irish-born woman with a doctorate in pure maths. |
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145. Hill Gaston (1913-1969??) was born in Ballymena, and was educated at QUB (BA 1936). No career information is known. |
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146. Norman Gault (1913-1949) was born 10 September in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1935, BSc in physics 1936). He taught briefly at his old school, Methody, then at Down HS in Newcastle, until his untimely death. |
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147. Marjorie Gleave (later Simms, 1913-1990) was born 26 September in Carrigfergus, Antrim. She grew up there and in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1935). She married in 1942, and later lived in Coleraine. |
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148. Margaret Knox (later Holmes, 1913-2015) was born 16 October in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1935, MSc 1936). Her thesis on "An Investigation of the Limiting Envelopes of Curves and Surfaces" was done with Jack Semple. She taught in Exeter and possibly also in Sheffield, marrying there in 1947. In 1958 she moved to Melbourne in Australia. She died in NZ, aged over 100. |
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149. Billy Todd (1913-1981, brother of Jack above) was born 2 November in Carnacally, Down, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1936). His career was spent teaching at Methodist College and later at Rainey School. |
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150. Harry Pitt (1914-2005) was born 3 June in West Bromwich, Staffs. He was educated at cambridge (BA 1935?, PhD 1938), his thesis on "General Tauberian Theorems" being done under G. H. Hardy & David Widder. His early career included stints at Aberdeen (1939-1942) and QUB (1945-1950), followed by longer spells at Nottingham and Reading. |
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151. Sam Lilley (1914-1987) was born 25 June in Belfast and was educated at first at QUB (BSc 1935, MSc 1936). His master's thesis "On Fundamental Curves of an Algebraic Surface and, in Particular, on Those Which Are Transformable into Double Points;" was done under Jack Semple. In 1938 he completed his PhD on "1. The Isolated Double Points Of An Algebraic Surface. 2. The Isolated United Points Of A Cyclic Involution Of Prime Order On An Algebraic Surface" under William Hodge at Cambridge. After working in ballistics during WWII he switched to history of science and journalism, teaching at Cambridge, Birmingham and Nottingham, often adult education classes. His books include Discovering Relativity For Yourself. |
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152. Kathleen Harvey (1914-2002) was born 12 July in Dublin and grew up there and in Belfast. She was educated at QUB (BA 1936, BSc 1937, MSc 1938). Her thesis was on "Nitrogen Afterglows". She was on the staff at QUB for a while. |
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153. Fred White (1914-??) was born 12 August in Portadown, ANtrim, and was educated at QUB (BA awarded 1937). He taught at Larne Grammar School and later at Belfast High School. |
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154. Elizabeth Chambers (later Callendar, 1914-1996) was born 12 September in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1936). She taught at first at Enniskillen Collegiate School, and later in West Riding, Yorkshire |
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155. Joe Unwin (1915-1943) was born 5 October in Leeds, England, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1937, MSc 1938). His thesis on "Recombination in the Upper Atmosphere" was done jointly with David Bates under Harrie Massey. In WWII, he was a civilian technical observer for the RAF, and died in a related accident. |
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156. James Yates (1915-1957) was born 22 October in Drogheda, Louth, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at TCD (schol 1936, BA 1938). He was in the physics dept at TCD for several year, and then moved to Cambridge. |
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157. Sarah Symington (1915- at least 1956) was born 26 October in Lurgan, Armagh, and educated at QUB (BA 1939). She taught for many years at Ballinagone, Portadown. |
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158. Ivan Lewis Arthur Cuthbertson (1915-1987) was born 30 September in Coleraine, Londonderry, and was educated at QUB (BA 1938). |
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159. Elizabeth Bailie (later Craig, 1915-2000) was born 8 December in Killenican, Down. She was educated at QUB (BSc 1937). Nothing further is known. |
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160. Hugh B Doherty (1915?-??) grew up in Derry and was educated at QUB (BA 1936). Nothing further is known. |
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161. Kathleen Miskimmen (1916-1998) was born in Coleraine, Londonderry, and was educated at QUB (BA 1938). No career info is known. |
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162. Irene Edgar (1916-??) was born 13 October in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1939). She taught at Omagh Academy. |
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163. Mary E. Stewart (1915-??) was born 25 December in Craigs, Ballymena, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1937). She taught at Glenlola School in Bangor. |
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164. Stanley Treanor (1916-1994) was born 5 February in Roscrea, Tipperary, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at TCD (scholar 1936, BA 1938) and Oxford (University College, MA? 1939). After 20 years in the civil service in India & Pakistan he taught maths at St Andrew's in Dublin (1963-1981).
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165. Edith Oakman (1916-1971) was born 8 March in Hillhall, Lisburn, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1938). Nothing more is known. |
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166. Nora Auterson (later Hoey, 1916-1980) was born 1 July in Newry, Down, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1937). No career information is known. |
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167. Richard Ingram (1916-1967) was born 27 July in Belfast, and was educated at first at UCD (BA 1938, MA 1939), where he earned an NUI Travelling Studentship. His 1948 PhD on "Characters of the Symmetric Group") was done at Johns Hopkins, earning under fellow Irishman Frank Murnaghan. A priest, his interests included geophysics and algebra. In addition to teaching maths at UCD for two decades, he spent many years running the seismological observatory at Rathfarnam Castle. A founding member of the IMTA, he also co-edited Volume 3 of the complete papers of W. R. Hamilton. |
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168. Tom Benson (1916-2020) was born 20 September in Dungannon, Tyrone, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1939). He spent most of his career at Larne Grammar School, where he was a very influential maths teacher. He also taught briefly at Ballymena Academy and Belfast Royal Academy in the mid 1940s. |
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169. Mathematical physicist David Bates (1916-1994) was born 18 November in Omagh, Tyrone, and grew up there and in Belfast. He was educated at first at QUB (BSc 1937, MA 1938). His thesis on "Recombination in the Upper Atmosphere" was done jointly with Joe Unwin under Harrie Massey. His doctoral studies with Massey at University College London were interrupted by WWII, and were never formally completed, but the two worked together extensively. UCL awarded him an honorary DSC in 1951, the year he returned to found the applied maths and theoretical physics dept at QUB. He worked in atmospheric and molecular physics, and had numerous doctoral students, not only there but also at Oxford. He was a founding member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. Wikipedia / RAS / Independent / Ulster Bio / EGU |
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170. Thomas McFadden (1919??-?) was born 29 March in Belfast and was educated at QUB (BA physics 1938, MSc 1939). His thesis was on "A Differential Method for Investigating Critical Potentials". |
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171. Ernest Best (1917-2004) was born 23 May in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1938, MSc 1939), with a master's thesis on "Some Problems in Hausdorff Measure". He then switched to theology, and had a career including terms as a minister in Northern Ireland and lectuting at St Andrews (1963-1973) and Glasgow (1974-1982). |
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172. Bertie Todd (1917-1992?, brother of Jack & Billy above) was born 17 August in Carnacally, Down, and grew up there and in Belfast. He got a University of London external degree by correspondence (circa 1939). While his career was spent in research in the linen industry, some of his publications had mathematical content. |
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173. Theoretical physicist Jim Hamilton (1918-2000) was born 29 January in Sligo town, and brought up in Belfast. He was educated at QUB (BSc 1938, MSc 1939). His master's thesis "A Theoretical Study of Gaseous Helium" was done under Harrie Massey. After a few years at QUB and DIAS, and war service at the British Admiralty, his Manchester PhD (1948) on "Quantum Theory of Radiation Damping" was done under Patrick Blackett. His career was spent at Cambridge (1950-1960), University College London, (1960-1964) and Nordita in Copenhagen (1964-1985). At DIAS, he helped develop the theory of cosmic-ray mesons, and his later work included S-matrix theory research. He supervised several doctoral students and authored 3 books. |
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174. Catherine Harper (later Cusdin, 1918-1978) was born 3 March in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BSc 1939). She married in 1941. |
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175. John Herivel (1918-2011) was born 29 August in Belfast, and was educated at Cambridge (Sidney Sussex, BA 1939). He was then drafted to work at Bletchley Park. Following the war, he taught at QUB for 30 years, and later at Oxford, writing several biographical books along the way. |
