Herbert Turnbull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert Turnbull
|
|
|---|---|
from 1926
|
|
| Born |
Herbert Westren Turnbull
31 August 1885 Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
|
| Died | 4 May 1961 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | British |
| Awards | Smith's Prize (1909) Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of St Andrews |
| Doctoral students | Walter Ledermann |
Herbert Westren Turnbull (born August 31, 1885 – died May 4, 1961) was a very smart English mathematician. He was a professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland for many years. From 1921 to 1950, he held a special position called the Regius Professor of Mathematics. This means he was the main mathematics professor there.
Contents
Life of a Mathematician
Herbert Westren Turnbull was born in a place called Tettenhall, near Wolverhampton in England. This was on August 31, 1885. He was the oldest of five brothers. His father, William Peveril Turnbull, worked as an inspector for schools.
Early Education and Career
Herbert went to Sheffield Grammar School to study. After that, he went to Cambridge University to study Mathematics. He earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree there.
After finishing his studies, he worked in different places. He was a lecturer at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, in 1909. Then he taught at the University of Liverpool in 1910. He even worked in Hong Kong! He was a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong in 1912. From 1911 to 1915, he was a master at St. Stephen's College in Hong Kong. He also looked after students at the University Hostel there.
Becoming a Professor
Later, he became a Fellow at St John's College, Oxford, from 1919 to 1926. In 1921, he started his important job as a mathematics professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Awards and Recognition
Herbert Turnbull was recognized for his great work. In 1922, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group of very smart people in Scotland. He won two special awards from them: the Keith Prize (1923-1925) and the Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize (1940–1944). In 1932, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very important group for scientists in the United Kingdom.
Hobbies and Retirement
Besides math, Herbert Turnbull loved climbing mountains. He was even the President of the Scottish Mountaineering Club from 1948 to 1950.
He retired from his teaching job in 1950. He passed away on May 4, 1961, in a village called Grasmere in the beautiful Lake District of England.
Family Life
In 1911, Herbert Turnbull married Ella Drummond Williamson. Her father was Canon H. D. Williamson. Herbert and Ella had one daughter together.
Important Work
Herbert Turnbull also helped edit a very important collection of letters. These were the letters of the famous scientist Isaac Newton. Turnbull helped put together the first three books of The correspondence of Isaac Newton between 1959 and 1961. There were seven books in total for this collection.
