L. M. Milne-Thomson
Encyclopedia
Louis Melville Milne-Thomson, CBE
(1 May 1891 – 21 August 1974) was an English
applied mathematician who wrote several classic textbooks on applied mathematics, including The Calculus of Finite Differences, Theoretical Hydrodynamics, and Theoretical Aerodynamics. He is also known for developing several mathematical tables such as Jacobian Elliptic Function Tables. The Milne-Thomson circle theorem is named after him. Milne-Thomson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1952.
, London
, England
on 1 May 1891 to Colonel Alexander Milne-Thomson, a physician and Eva Mary Milne, the daughter of the Revd J. Milne. He was the eldest of his parents' sons. He studied at Clifton College
in Bristol
as a classical scholar for three years. After securing a scholarship, Milne-Thomson joined Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
in 1909 and received part I of the Mathematical Tripos
in 1911. He graduated with distinction as a Wrangler in 1913.
In 1914 Milne-Thomson joined Winchester College
in Hampshire
as an assistant mathematics master and taught there for next seven years. In 1921 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the Royal Naval College
, Greenwich
and remained there until retirement at the age of 65.
After retiring from the Royal Naval College, Milne-Thomson took up various posts as Visiting Professor
at various institutions around the world, including the Brown University
at Rhode Island
, the US Army Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin
(1958–1960), the University of Arizona
(1961–1970), University of Rome (1968), the University of Queensland
(1969), the University of Calgary
(1970), and finally the University of Otago
(1971). At the end of a long caree Milne-Thomson quit academics in 1971 and went to live in Sevenoaks
, Kent
where he died at the age of 83.
In 1933 Milne-Thomson published his first book, The Calculus of Finite Differences which became a classic textbook and the original text was reprinted in 1951. In the mid 1930s, Milne-Thomson developed an interest in hydrodynamics and later in aerodynamics
. This led to publication of two popular textbooks titled Theoretical Hydrodynamics and Theoretical Aerodynamics. The Theoretical Hydrodynamics published by Macmillan & Co. Ltd., London, appeared in 1938 and more material based on his own research was added in the subsequent editions of this classic book. The fifth edition appeared thirty years later in 1968. The book was republished by Dover Publications in 1996. Similarly, Theoretical Aerodynamics, first published in 1948, went though a number of editions with the fourth appearing in 1968.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1 May 1891 – 21 August 1974) was an English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
applied mathematician who wrote several classic textbooks on applied mathematics, including The Calculus of Finite Differences, Theoretical Hydrodynamics, and Theoretical Aerodynamics. He is also known for developing several mathematical tables such as Jacobian Elliptic Function Tables. The Milne-Thomson circle theorem is named after him. Milne-Thomson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1952.
Early years and career
Milne-Thomson was born in EalingEaling
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 1 May 1891 to Colonel Alexander Milne-Thomson, a physician and Eva Mary Milne, the daughter of the Revd J. Milne. He was the eldest of his parents' sons. He studied at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
as a classical scholar for three years. After securing a scholarship, Milne-Thomson joined Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
in 1909 and received part I of the Mathematical Tripos
Cambridge Mathematical Tripos
The Mathematical Tripos is the taught mathematics course at the University of Cambridge. It is the oldest Tripos that is examined in Cambridge.-Origin:...
in 1911. He graduated with distinction as a Wrangler in 1913.
In 1914 Milne-Thomson joined Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
as an assistant mathematics master and taught there for next seven years. In 1921 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the Royal Naval College
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, London, described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as being of “outstanding universal value” and reckoned to be the “finest and most...
, Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
and remained there until retirement at the age of 65.
After retiring from the Royal Naval College, Milne-Thomson took up various posts as Visiting Professor
Visiting scholar
In the world of academia, a visiting scholar or visiting academic is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university, where he or she is projected to teach , lecture , or perform research on a topic the visitor is valued for...
at various institutions around the world, including the Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
at Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, the US Army Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(1958–1960), the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(1961–1970), University of Rome (1968), the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
(1969), the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
(1970), and finally the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
(1971). At the end of a long caree Milne-Thomson quit academics in 1971 and went to live in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
where he died at the age of 83.
Work
During the early stages of his career, he developed and compiled several mathematical tables such as the Standard Four Figure Mathematical Tables jointly constructed with L. J. Comrie and published in 1931, Standard Table of Square Roots (1932), and Jacobian Elliptic Function Tables (1932).In 1933 Milne-Thomson published his first book, The Calculus of Finite Differences which became a classic textbook and the original text was reprinted in 1951. In the mid 1930s, Milne-Thomson developed an interest in hydrodynamics and later in aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. This led to publication of two popular textbooks titled Theoretical Hydrodynamics and Theoretical Aerodynamics. The Theoretical Hydrodynamics published by Macmillan & Co. Ltd., London, appeared in 1938 and more material based on his own research was added in the subsequent editions of this classic book. The fifth edition appeared thirty years later in 1968. The book was republished by Dover Publications in 1996. Similarly, Theoretical Aerodynamics, first published in 1948, went though a number of editions with the fourth appearing in 1968.