A mathematician and academic who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of differential equations and function theory.
Andrew Forsyth was a renowned British mathematician and academic, best known for his influential works on differential equations and the theory of functions of a complex variable. As a prolific author and educator, Forsyth left an indelible mark on the field of mathematics, shaping the course of future research and inspiring generations of mathematicians.
Born on June 18, 1858, in Glasgow, Scotland, Forsyth was the son of John Forsyth, a marine engineer, and his wife Christina Glen. He received his early education at Liverpool College and was later tutored by Richard Pendlebury before entering Trinity College, Cambridge. Forsyth's exceptional mathematical talents earned him the esteemed title of senior wrangler in 1881, solidifying his position as a rising star in the mathematical community.
Forsyth's academic career was marked by various milestones and accomplishments. He was elected a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and later appointed to the chair of mathematics at the University of Liverpool at the tender age of 24. In 1884, he returned to Cambridge as a lecturer and eventually became the Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics in 1895.
Forsyth's most notable contributions to mathematics include his treatises on differential equations and the theory of functions of a complex variable. His books, although occasionally criticized for their style and approach, remain influential and widely read to this day. He was an elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1886 and received the prestigious Royal Medal in 1897.
Forsyth's personal life was not without controversy. In 1910, he was forced to resign his chair at Cambridge due to a scandalous affair with Marion Amelia Boys, the wife of physicist C. V. Boys. The scandal led to Boys' divorce and subsequent marriage to Forsyth. Despite this setback, Forsyth continued to lecture and publish, eventually becoming a professor at the Imperial College of Science in 1913.
Forsyth retired from academia in 1923 but remained mathematically active until his seventies. He passed away on June 2, 1942, in London, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering mathematician and educator. Although his original research may not have been as groundbreaking as some of his contemporaries, Forsyth's treatises have had a lasting impact on the development of mathematics.
Forsyth received the degree of Doctor mathematicae honoris causa from the Royal Frederick University in 1902, a testament to his contributions to the field of mathematics. He was also a Plenary Speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1908.
Born in 1821
Developed the theory of matrices and introduced the concept of groups, revolutionizing abstract algebra and paving the way for modern mathematics.
Born in 1831
Developed groundbreaking theories that unified electricity and magnetism, and predicted the existence of radio waves, revolutionizing our understanding of the physical world.
Born in 1805
Developed groundbreaking theories in optics, algebra, and geometry, and is credited with discovering quaternions, a mathematical concept that paved the way for modern vector analysis.
Born in 1820
A mathematician and author who wrote influential textbooks on mathematics, particularly calculus and algebra, that were widely used in British schools during the 19th century. His works remained popular for many years, shaping the education of numerous mathematicians and scientists.
Born in 1861
Developed groundbreaking philosophical concepts, such as process philosophy, and contributed significantly to mathematics, particularly in the fields of logic and geometry.
