John Macnaghten Whittaker facts for kids
John Macnaghten Whittaker (born March 7, 1905 – died January 29, 1984) was a brilliant British mathematician. He was also the leader, called the Vice-Chancellor, of the University of Sheffield for many years, from 1953 to 1965. He was recognized for his important work by becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
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A Young Mathematician's Journey
John Whittaker was born in Cambridge on March 7, 1905. His father, Edmund Taylor Whittaker, was also a famous mathematician.
John went to school in St Andrews and then Fettes College in Edinburgh. He was very smart and started studying Maths and Physics at Edinburgh University when he was just 15! He earned his first university degree in 1924. After that, he spent three more years studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, getting another degree in 1927.
Starting His Career
In 1927, John began his teaching career. He became an assistant lecturer in Mathematics at Edinburgh University. The next year, in 1928, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special honor for scientists and thinkers.
He earned his doctorate degree (DSc) in 1929. Soon after, he became a Fellow at Pembroke College, Cambridge. In 1933, he moved to Liverpool University to become a professor of pure mathematics.
Serving During Wartime
During the Second World War, John Whittaker joined the Royal Artillery. He served with the 8th Army in Egypt and Tunisia from 1942 to 1943. He even worked on the staff of Field-Marshal Montgomery. Later, in 1944 and 1945, he was a Scientific Advisor to the Army Council. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Leading a University
After the war, John returned to Liverpool University. He became the Dean of Science there. In 1953, he moved to Sheffield to become the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield. This meant he was in charge of the whole university.
During his time as Vice-Chancellor, the university grew a lot. The number of students increased from 2,500 to 7,000! This meant many new staff members were hired and many new buildings were constructed. In 1955, the university celebrated its 100th birthday. Even the Queen visited for the celebration!
John retired from his role in 1965. The city of Sheffield honored him by giving him the Freedom of the City. This is a special award given to people who have done great things for the city.
Life After Retirement
In his retirement, John enjoyed his other hobbies. He loved art and archeology. He collected beautiful watercolours and old Persian antiques. He passed away on January 29, 1984.
His Family Life
In 1933, John married Iona Mhari Natalie Elliott. They had two sons together.
His Important Work and Awards
John Macnaghten Whittaker's early work (from 1926 to 1928) was about quantum theory. This is a complex area of physics. However, his main work was in complex analysis, a branch of mathematics.
He also built upon the cardinal function theory developed by his father, E. T. Whittaker. In 1948, John won the Adams Prize. This was a shared award with other mathematicians like Burkill, Chandresekhar, and Hayman.
In 1949, John Macnaghten Whittaker was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. His father had also been a Fellow of the Royal Society. They were the only father and child to hold this honor at the same time!
See also
- Abel–Goncharov interpolation
