William Mitchinson Hicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Mitchinson Hicks
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| Born | 23 September 1850 |
| Died | 17 August 1934 (aged 83) Crowhurst, Sussex, England
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| Alma mater | St John's College |
| Known for | Hicks equation |
| Children | 3 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics Fluid Dynamics Atomic structure |
William Mitchinson Hicks (born September 23, 1850, died August 17, 1934) was a brilliant British scientist. He was a mathematician and a physicist. He was born in Launceston, Cornwall, England. He studied at St John's College in Cambridge. He finished his studies in 1873 and became a fellow at the college.
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William Hicks: A Key Scientist
William Hicks spent most of his working life in Sheffield, England. He helped a lot to build up the university there. He was the head of Firth College from 1892 to 1897.
Helping Sheffield University Grow
In 1897, Firth College joined with two other colleges. They formed the University College of Sheffield. Hicks became its first leader. He stayed in this role until 1905.
In 1905, the college became the University of Sheffield. It received a special permission called a royal charter. William Hicks was chosen as the university's very first Vice-Chancellor. This is like being the main boss of the university.
His Work as a Professor
From 1883 to 1892, Hicks was a professor in both Physics and Mathematics at Sheffield. After that, he was the Professor of Physics from 1892 until 1917. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1885. This is a very important group for scientists.
In 1912, he won the Royal Society's Royal Medal. He received it for his important work in mathematical physics. Later, in 1921, Hicks also won the Adams Prize. This is another big award for scientists.
Lasting Legacy
William Hicks's work is still remembered today. A building at the University of Sheffield is named after him.
The Hicks Building
The Hicks Building is a large building at the University of Sheffield. It is home to several important departments. These include the departments of Physics and Astronomy. It also has the workshop for Chemistry and Physics. The School of Mathematics and Statistics is also located there.
The Hicks Equation
A special scientific idea, the Hicks equation, is also named after him. This shows how important his discoveries were in physics and mathematics.
