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Edward Titchmarsh
Times obituary
MATHEMATICS AT OXFORD
Professor E. C. Titchmarsh, F.R.S., Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, died yesterday at the age of 63.
Edward Charles Titchmarsh was born on June 1, 1899, in Newbury, the son of the Rev. E. H. Titchmarsh, who was a Congregational minister. Most of his boyhood was spent in Sheffield and he was educated at the King Edward VII School. His mathematical ability appeared at an early age, when he came second on a problem paper set for all boys in the upper part of the school. In spite of this, he was put on the classical side, and it was only after failing Greek in the Higher School Certificate that he was really allowed to become a mathematician!
From school, Titchmarsh went into the Army (1917-18) and then to Balliol College, Oxford, where, in addition to getting firsts in the Honor School of Mathematics, he won both the Junior and Senior Mathematical Scholarships. He began research work under G. H. Hardy and before long they were writing joint papers. From 1923-29, he was a lecturer at University College London and a prize fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
In 1929, he went to Liverpool University as Professor of Pure Mathematics, and in 1931, at the age of 32, he returned to Oxford as Savilian Professor of Geometry (the oldest extant mathematical chair in Britain). This carried with it a fellowship at New College, Oxford. In 1930, he had published his first book, The Zeta-Function of Riemann (Cambridge Tract in Mathematics, No. 26). His second book, The Theory of Functions, appeared in 1932: it was clear, comprehensive, and well written, and it is still a standard work. At Oxford, Titchmarsh fostered the school of analysis founded by G. H. Hardy. He gave generous help to his research students, some of whom now hold mathematical chairs. His subsequent books show the three main fields in which he worked: Introduction to the Theory of Fourier Integrals (1937), Eigenfunction Expansions Associated with Second Order Differential Equations (1946), and The Theory of the Riemann Zeta-Function (1951). All three were of the same high standard as his first two books. He wrote one semi-popular book, Mathematics for the General Reader (1948), which sold well. Titchmarsh was president of the London Mathematical Society in 1945-47 and was awarded the society's De Morgan Medal in 1953. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1931, and in 1955 he was awarded the Sylvester Medal. An honorary D.Sc. was conferred upon him by Sheffield University.
Though his interests and activities were mainly mathematical, he performed such other tasks as came his way with quiet efficiency and good judgment. He was a retiring person and was not easy to know, but his shyness was relieved by a sense of humor which would suddenly transform him. He was very happy in his home and he enjoyed listening to music and watching cricket, a game in which his
father's family had been distinguished. In 1925 he married Kathleen Blomfield, by whom he had three daughters.
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Dr. W. L. Ferrar, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, writes:
Titchmarsh, from his earliest research days, displayed a power of analysis and synthesis that marked him out as a mathematician whose reputation would be world-wide. He carefully fostered and strengthened this power; research papers and books flowed steadily from his pen until now. At his death at the age of 63, his total output of learned mathematical work stands as an impressive achievement of the sort that can be attained only when outstanding ability is coupled with constant devotion and steady application
His first big book, The Theory of Functions, was the rebellion of a young, widely read professor against the narrow range to which mathematical analysis was then so often confined. His later books, or rather his methods of writing them, are almost unique in character. He would research on a particular subject, Fourier integrals or the zeta function, for a number of years and then "sign off" with a book that represented the synthesis of his own discoveries and of all he had learned of other people's discoveries in the course of his own research. The result is a series of books of quite outstanding merit. One of the compliments paid to him, and one he much appreciated at the time, was the translation of these books into Russian.
As a lecturer, he was conscientious and careful, but in no way outstanding save on rare occasions. These occasions were when, with an audience of professional mathematicians, he was lecturing on his own current research; and then the lecture lit up with his own zeal for the subject.
In character, he was quiet in manner, perhaps even diffident and not easy to get along with. He never sought administrative tasks and was, I think, surprised and pleased when, as president of the London Mathematical Society, he found himself to be an excellent chairman and leader of the society. When his turn came, he acted as Sub-Warden of New College and during his term of office surprised his contemporaries, perhaps even himself, by the high quality of his public speaking, an art he had but rarely practised and to which he never returned.
His many friends in Oxford and in mathematical societies mourn the passing of a man who so faithfully served his own genius, his university, and his college.
MATHEMATICS AT OXFORD
Professor E. C. Titchmarsh, F.R.S., Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, died yesterday at the age of 63.
Edward Charles Titchmarsh was born on June 1, 1899, in Newbury, the son of the Rev. E. H. Titchmarsh, who was a Congregational minister. Most of his boyhood was spent in Sheffield and he was educated at the King Edward VII School. His mathematical ability appeared at an early age, when he came second on a problem paper set for all boys in the upper part of the school. In spite of this, he was put on the classical side, and it was only after failing Greek in the Higher School Certificate that he was really allowed to become a mathematician!
From school, Titchmarsh went into the Army (1917-18) and then to Balliol College, Oxford, where, in addition to getting firsts in the Honor School of Mathematics, he won both the Junior and Senior Mathematical Scholarships. He began research work under G. H. Hardy and before long they were writing joint papers. From 1923-29, he was a lecturer at University College London and a prize fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
In 1929, he went to Liverpool University as Professor of Pure Mathematics, and in 1931, at the age of 32, he returned to Oxford as Savilian Professor of Geometry (the oldest extant mathematical chair in Britain). This carried with it a fellowship at New College, Oxford. In 1930, he had published his first book, The Zeta-Function of Riemann (Cambridge Tract in Mathematics, No. 26). His second book, The Theory of Functions, appeared in 1932: it was clear, comprehensive, and well written, and it is still a standard work. At Oxford, Titchmarsh fostered the school of analysis founded by G. H. Hardy. He gave generous help to his research students, some of whom now hold mathematical chairs. His subsequent books show the three main fields in which he worked: Introduction to the Theory of Fourier Integrals (1937), Eigenfunction Expansions Associated with Second Order Differential Equations (1946), and The Theory of the Riemann Zeta-Function (1951). All three were of the same high standard as his first two books. He wrote one semi-popular book, Mathematics for the General Reader (1948), which sold well. Titchmarsh was president of the London Mathematical Society in 1945-47 and was awarded the society's De Morgan Medal in 1953. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1931, and in 1955 he was awarded the Sylvester Medal. An honorary D.Sc. was conferred upon him by Sheffield University.
Though his interests and activities were mainly mathematical, he performed such other tasks as came his way with quiet efficiency and good judgment. He was a retiring person and was not easy to know, but his shyness was relieved by a sense of humor which would suddenly transform him. He was very happy in his home and he enjoyed listening to music and watching cricket, a game in which his
father's family had been distinguished. In 1925 he married Kathleen Blomfield, by whom he had three daughters.
________________________________________________
Dr. W. L. Ferrar, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, writes:
Titchmarsh, from his earliest research days, displayed a power of analysis and synthesis that marked him out as a mathematician whose reputation would be world-wide. He carefully fostered and strengthened this power; research papers and books flowed steadily from his pen until now. At his death at the age of 63, his total output of learned mathematical work stands as an impressive achievement of the sort that can be attained only when outstanding ability is coupled with constant devotion and steady application
His first big book, The Theory of Functions, was the rebellion of a young, widely read professor against the narrow range to which mathematical analysis was then so often confined. His later books, or rather his methods of writing them, are almost unique in character. He would research on a particular subject, Fourier integrals or the zeta function, for a number of years and then "sign off" with a book that represented the synthesis of his own discoveries and of all he had learned of other people's discoveries in the course of his own research. The result is a series of books of quite outstanding merit. One of the compliments paid to him, and one he much appreciated at the time, was the translation of these books into Russian.
As a lecturer, he was conscientious and careful, but in no way outstanding save on rare occasions. These occasions were when, with an audience of professional mathematicians, he was lecturing on his own current research; and then the lecture lit up with his own zeal for the subject.
In character, he was quiet in manner, perhaps even diffident and not easy to get along with. He never sought administrative tasks and was, I think, surprised and pleased when, as president of the London Mathematical Society, he found himself to be an excellent chairman and leader of the society. When his turn came, he acted as Sub-Warden of New College and during his term of office surprised his contemporaries, perhaps even himself, by the high quality of his public speaking, an art he had but rarely practised and to which he never returned.
His many friends in Oxford and in mathematical societies mourn the passing of a man who so faithfully served his own genius, his university, and his college.
