Joseph Proudman facts for kids

Joseph Proudman (born December 30, 1888 – died June 26, 1975) was a very important British mathematician and oceanographer. He was known around the world for his work. He studied how ocean tides work. His research helped solve many puzzles about tides. It also created the basis for a system to predict tides. This system was very important globally and he developed it with Arthur Doodson.

Proudman's Early Life and School

Joseph Proudman was born in a small village called Unsworth. This village is near Bury, Lancashire. He was born on December 30, 1888. He went to primary schools in Unsworth and Bold. From 1902 to 1907, he worked as a pupil-teacher at Farnworth primary school. This meant he helped teach younger students while also learning himself.

He took extra lessons before school started. He also went to evening classes at Widnes Technical School. There, he studied art, mathematics, and physiography. Physiography is the study of the Earth's surface and its features.

University Studies

In 1907, Joseph Proudman won a special scholarship. This allowed him to go to the University of Liverpool. He did very well there. In 1910, he graduated with top honors. He won two awards for his excellent work in mathematics.

After Liverpool, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied pure and applied mathematics. He graduated in 1912. He was known as a "Wrangler with distinction." This means he was one of the very best math students at Cambridge.

Proudman's Career in Science

Joseph Proudman's teacher, Rev. E. W. Barnes, suggested he study tides. This led him to his main scientific interest: the movement of tides. In 1913, he returned to Liverpool University as a lecturer. By 1919, he became the first professor of applied mathematics there.

Starting the Tidal Institute

In 1916, another scientist, Horace Lamb, asked Proudman for help. They worked on a report about ocean tides for the British Association. This gave Proudman an idea. He wanted to create a special place to research all parts of tides.

This idea came true in 1919. Two ship-owners from Liverpool, the Booth brothers, gave money to help. The Liverpool Observatory and Tidal Institute began its work. Proudman was its Honorary Director, and Arthur Doodson was the Secretary. In just a few years, the institute became famous worldwide. It was known for predicting tides and for its important research.

In 1933, Proudman changed his role. He became a professor of oceanography. He shifted the focus of this study from biology to physical oceanography. This means he focused more on the physics of the ocean. He stayed in this job until he retired in 1954.

Predicting Tides for the World

From 1924 to the 1950s, Proudman's institute was amazing. It predicted tides for about two-thirds of the entire world! The institute changed its name a few times. Today, it is called the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory.

Proudman often said that he and Doodson worked well together. He liked to do the complex math (algebra). Doodson preferred the calculations (arithmetic). This showed how their skills fit together perfectly.

Besides his scientific work, Proudman was also important at the University. He helped manage the University during World War II, from 1940 to 1946. He believed in focusing on one thing at a time to get a lot done. He was very good at understanding problems quickly, whether they were scientific or about managing the University.

Proudman's Personal Life

Joseph Proudman married Rubina Ormrod in 1916. They had two sons, James and Ian, and a daughter, Nancy. After Rubina passed away in 1958, Proudman married Beryl Gould in 1961. Beryl was still alive when Proudman died on June 26, 1975.

Awards and Recognition

Joseph Proudman was a well-known scientist around the world. He was the Secretary of the International Association of Physical Oceanography for many years. Later, he became its president from 1951 to 1954. This group is now called the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans.

He received many honors from other countries. He became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. He also won the Alexander Agassiz Medal from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

In 1923, he won the Adams prize from the University of Cambridge. He won it for an essay he wrote about tides. This essay was full of new ideas. These ideas led to many important papers, often written with Doodson. These papers were important for both theory and practical uses.

In 1952, he was given the CBE award. After he retired, the University of Liverpool gave him an honorary law degree. He was also a member of the Royal Society (elected in 1925). The Royal Society gave him the Hughes Medal in 1957. He also served on many important science and government groups.

A special way that meteotsunamis (a type of tsunami caused by weather) get bigger was explained by Proudman in 1929. This idea is now called the Proudman resonance.