Anne Cobbe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Cobbe
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Anne Philippa Cobbe, Matriculation photograph 1939, Somerville College, Oxford
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| Born | 7 August 1920 Sharnbrook
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| Died | 15 December 1971 (aged 51) |
| Alma mater | Somerville College, Oxford |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Somerville College, Oxford |
| Thesis | Modern Algebraic Theories |
| Academic advisors | J. H. C. Whitehead |
| Notable students | Jane Bridge Kister |
Anne Philippa Cobbe (born August 7, 1920 – died December 15, 1971) was a brilliant mathematician who worked at the University of Oxford. She was known for being a very inspiring and helpful math teacher at Somerville College. During her time there, Somerville College was a special college just for women.
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Early Life and Family
Anne Cobbe was born in a place called Sharnbrook in England. She was the youngest child of General Alexander Cobbe and Winifred Ada Bowen. Her family lived in a large house called Colworth House.
When Anne was ten years old, her father passed away. She had an older sister, Winifred, and a brother, Alexander. Sadly, her brother Alexander was a pilot in the Royal Air Force and died during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Education and Work
Anne went to Downe House School. She started studying mathematics when she was in her final years of high school. In 1938, she tried to get into University of Oxford to study history, but she was told it wasn't the right subject for her.
The next year, in 1939, she took the math entrance exam. She did so well that she won a special scholarship to study at Somerville College, Oxford. Interestingly, her head teacher, Olive Willis, had also studied at Somerville College.
Working During Wartime
Anne finished her university exams in 1942. After that, she started working for the Royal Navy. Her job was in something called "operational research." This meant she used math and science to help the Navy make better decisions during the war.
After the war ended, Anne went back to Oxford. She earned her Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1946.
Becoming a Doctor of Philosophy
Anne continued her studies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Her mentor was J. H. C. Whitehead, who was a family friend. In 1951, she published her first important paper about a type of math called homological algebra.
In 1952, Anne earned her Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree. This is a very high academic degree. Her special research paper for this degree was called Modern Algebraic Theories.
Teaching at Oxford
After getting her DPhil, Anne became a lecturer at Lady Margaret Hall. In 1955, she published another paper about math. Later that same year, she returned to Somerville College. There, she became a "fellow" and a "tutor." This meant she was a senior member of the college and taught students.
Anne loved taking care of the gardens at Somerville College. She also preferred teaching math to small groups of students, often with tea and biscuits, rather than giving big lectures. In 1957, she published a math paper with another mathematician named Robert Leroy Taylor.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1969, Anne Cobbe became very ill. She had to stop her teaching and college duties in April 1971. However, she continued to help and advise students until she passed away in December of that year.
In her will, Anne left her house in Walton Street, Oxford to Somerville College. She asked that a famous philosopher named Philippa Foot be allowed to live there for as long as she wished. After Anne's death, one of her former students, Jane Bridge, took over her role as the math tutor at Somerville.
In 1972, Somerville College created the Anne Cobbe Memorial Fund. This fund was started with money from her friends, colleagues, and students. It helps university students who are studying mathematics, physics, or engineering.
