Olaus Henrici facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olaus Henrici
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Olaus Henrici (year unknown)
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| Born | 9 March 1840 Meldorf, Duchy of Holstein
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| Died | 10 August 1918 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | German |
| Alma mater | Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University College London Bedford College, London Central Technical College |
| Doctoral advisor | Otto Hesse |
| Other academic advisors | Karl Weierstrass, Leopold Kronecker |
| Notable students | G. B. Mathews Raphael Weldon |
Olaus Henrici was a German mathematician. He was born on March 9, 1840, in Meldorf, which was then part of the Duchy of Holstein. He later moved to London and became a professor there. Olaus Henrici passed away on August 10, 1918, in Chandler's Ford, England.
Early Life and Studies
Olaus Henrici first spent three years learning about engineering. After that, he went to the Karlsruhe Polytechnium. There, a professor named Alfred Clebsch encouraged him to study mathematics.
He then moved to Heidelberg to study with Otto Hesse. Olaus Henrici earned his doctorate degree from the University of Heidelberg on June 6, 1863. He continued his studies in Berlin with other famous mathematicians, Karl Weierstrass and Leopold Kronecker. For a short time, he taught math and physics at the University of Kiel, but he faced some money problems.
Moving to London
In 1865, Olaus Henrici moved to London. He started working as a private teacher. In 1869, his former teacher, Otto Hesse, introduced him to J. J. Sylvester. Sylvester then helped him meet other important mathematicians like Arthur Cayley, William Kingdon Clifford, and Thomas Archer Hirst.
It was Thomas Archer Hirst who gave Henrici a job at University College London. Henrici also became a professor at Bedford College. When Hirst became sick, Henrici took over his position at University College. He worked there until 1884. After 1880, he started focusing more on applied mathematics, which is about using math to solve real-world problems.
Leading Mathematician
From 1882 to 1884, Olaus Henrici was the President of the London Mathematical Society. This was a very important role in the world of mathematics in London.
In 1884, he moved to the Central Technical College. There, he was in charge of a special lab called the Laboratory of Mechanics. This lab had cool machines like calculating machines, planimeters (which measure areas), and harmonic analyzers (which break down complex waves).
Henrici was very interested in the work of Robert Stawell Ball on something called screw theory. In 1890, Henrici even wrote a book review for the science magazine Nature to explain this theory.
Later Years
Olaus Henrici retired in 1911. After retiring, he moved to Chandler's Ford in Hampshire, England. He spent his retirement enjoying gardening.
Works
Olaus Henrici wrote several books during his career:
- Skeleton Structures: Especially in Their Application to the Building of Steel & Iron Bridges. New York: Van Nostrand, 1867.
- Elementary Geometry: Congruent Figures. London: Longmans, Green, 1879.
- Elementary Geometry: Congruent Figures. London: Longmans, Green, second edition 1888.
- Vectors and rotors, 1903.
