Alexander Anderson (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Anderson was an Irish
physicist and President of Queen's College Galway, later University College Galway, from 1899 until 1934.
Alexander Anderson was born on 12 May 1858, the son of Daniel Anderson, of Camus, Coleraine
, County Londonderry
. He was educated at Queen's College Galway, where he won a first-year scholarship in the Science Division of the Faculty of Arts and the Sir Robert Peel Prize in Geometry in 1876. He was awarded gold medals on the results of his B.A. examination in 1880, and his M.A. examination in 1881. He won first place in an open examination for a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, in 1881. There, he was Goldsmith Exhibitioner for 1882, and graduated sixth wrangler in 1884.
In 1885, Anderson returned to Queen's College Galway, where he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy
, a post he held until 1934. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal University of Ireland
in 1886, and a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1891. He was appointed President of Queen's College Galway on the resignation of Professor W. J. M. Starkie
in 1899.
Anderson was conferred with an honorary L.L.D. by the University of Glasgow
in 1901. He served as a Senator of both the Royal University of Ireland, and its successor, the National University of Ireland
, and as a member of the Dublin Commissioners appointed under the Irish Universities Act of 1908. He was Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland in 1915 and 1920.
Anderson married Miss Emily Binns, of Galway
.
He retired as President of the College in 1934, and died in September 1936.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
physicist and President of Queen's College Galway, later University College Galway, from 1899 until 1934.
Alexander Anderson was born on 12 May 1858, the son of Daniel Anderson, of Camus, Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. He was educated at Queen's College Galway, where he won a first-year scholarship in the Science Division of the Faculty of Arts and the Sir Robert Peel Prize in Geometry in 1876. He was awarded gold medals on the results of his B.A. examination in 1880, and his M.A. examination in 1881. He won first place in an open examination for a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, in 1881. There, he was Goldsmith Exhibitioner for 1882, and graduated sixth wrangler in 1884.
In 1885, Anderson returned to Queen's College Galway, where he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
, a post he held until 1934. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal University of Ireland
Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...
in 1886, and a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1891. He was appointed President of Queen's College Galway on the resignation of Professor W. J. M. Starkie
W. J. M. Starkie
William Joseph Myles Starkie was a noted Greek scholar and translator of Aristophanes. He was President of Queen's College, Galway and the last Resident Commissioner of National Education for Ireland under British rule .-Life:He was born at Rosses Point, Sligo, where his father was Resident...
in 1899.
Anderson was conferred with an honorary L.L.D. by the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1901. He served as a Senator of both the Royal University of Ireland, and its successor, the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
, and as a member of the Dublin Commissioners appointed under the Irish Universities Act of 1908. He was Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland in 1915 and 1920.
Anderson married Miss Emily Binns, of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
.
He retired as President of the College in 1934, and died in September 1936.