Oswald Veblen
Encyclopedia
Oswald Veblen was an American mathematician
, geometer and topologist, whose work found application in atomic physics
and the theory of relativity
. He proved the Jordan curve theorem
in 1905.
. He went to school in Iowa City. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa
, where he received an A.B. in 1898, and Harvard University
, where he was awarded a second B.A. in 1900. For his graduate studies, he went to study mathematics at the University of Chicago
, where he obtained a Ph.D. in 1903. His dissertation, A System of Axioms for Geometry was written under the supervision of E. H. Moore
.
Veblen taught mathematics at Princeton University
from 1905 to 1932. In 1926, he was named Henry B. Fine
Professor of Mathematics. In 1932, he helped organize the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton, resigning his professorship to become the first professor at the Institute that same year. He kept his professorship at the Institute until he was made emeritus in 1950.
Veblen died in Brooklin, Maine
, in 1960 at age 80. After his death the American Mathematical Society
created an award in his name, called the Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry
. It is awarded every three years, and is the most prestigious award in recognition of outstanding research in geometry.
and differential geometries, including results important in modern physics
. He introduced the Veblen axioms for projective geometry and proved the Veblen–Young theorem
. He introduced the Veblen function
s of ordinals and used an extension of them to define the small and large Veblen ordinal
s. He was involved in overseeing the World War II
work that produced the pioneering ENIAC
electronic digital computer. He also published a paper in 1912 on the four-color conjecture.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, geometer and topologist, whose work found application in atomic physics
Atomic physics
Atomic physics is the field of physics that studies atoms as an isolated system of electrons and an atomic nucleus. It is primarily concerned with the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus and...
and the theory of relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
. He proved the Jordan curve theorem
Jordan curve theorem
In topology, a Jordan curve is a non-self-intersecting continuous loop in the plane, and another name for a Jordan curve is a "simple closed curve"...
in 1905.
Life
Veblen was born in Decorah, IowaDecorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
. He went to school in Iowa City. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, where he received an A.B. in 1898, and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he was awarded a second B.A. in 1900. For his graduate studies, he went to study mathematics at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he obtained a Ph.D. in 1903. His dissertation, A System of Axioms for Geometry was written under the supervision of E. H. Moore
Eliakim Hastings Moore
Eliakim Hastings Moore may refer to:* Eliakim H. Moore - U.S. Congressman from Ohio* E. H. Moore, Eliakim Hastings Moore, - American mathematician...
.
Veblen taught mathematics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
from 1905 to 1932. In 1926, he was named Henry B. Fine
Henry Burchard Fine
Henry Burchard Fine was an American university dean and mathematician.Fine was born at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and was educated at Princeton and Leipzig universities...
Professor of Mathematics. In 1932, he helped organize the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton, resigning his professorship to become the first professor at the Institute that same year. He kept his professorship at the Institute until he was made emeritus in 1950.
Veblen died in Brooklin, Maine
Brooklin, Maine
Brooklin is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 841 at the 2000 census. It is home to WoodenBoat Magazine Brooklin Boat Yard, and numerous boatbuilders, artists, writers, musicians and potters.-History:...
, in 1960 at age 80. After his death the American Mathematical Society
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
created an award in his name, called the Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry
Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry
The Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry is an award granted by the American Mathematical Society for notable research in geometry or topology. It was founded in 1961 in memory of Oswald Veblen...
. It is awarded every three years, and is the most prestigious award in recognition of outstanding research in geometry.
Accomplishments
During his career, Veblen made important contributions in topology and in projectiveProjective geometry
In mathematics, projective geometry is the study of geometric properties that are invariant under projective transformations. This means that, compared to elementary geometry, projective geometry has a different setting, projective space, and a selective set of basic geometric concepts...
and differential geometries, including results important in modern physics
Modern physics
The term modern physics refers to the post-Newtonian conception of physics. The term implies that classical descriptions of phenomena are lacking, and that an accurate, "modern", description of reality requires theories to incorporate elements of quantum mechanics or Einsteinian relativity, or both...
. He introduced the Veblen axioms for projective geometry and proved the Veblen–Young theorem
Veblen–Young theorem
In mathematics, the Veblen–Young theorem, proved by , states that a projective space of dimension at least 3 can be constructed as the projective space associated to a vector space over a division ring....
. He introduced the Veblen function
Veblen function
In mathematics, the Veblen functions are a hierarchy of normal functions , introduced by Oswald Veblen in...
s of ordinals and used an extension of them to define the small and large Veblen ordinal
Veblen ordinal
In mathematics, the Veblen ordinal is either of two large countable ordinals:*The small Veblen ordinal*The large Veblen ordinal...
s. He was involved in overseeing the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
work that produced the pioneering ENIAC
ENIAC
ENIAC was the first general-purpose electronic computer. It was a Turing-complete digital computer capable of being reprogrammed to solve a full range of computing problems....
electronic digital computer. He also published a paper in 1912 on the four-color conjecture.
Books by O. Veblen
- Projective geometry with John Wesley Young (Ginn and co., 1910-1918)
- Introduction to infinitesimal analysis; functions of one real variable with N. J. Lennes (John Wiley & Sons, 1907)
External links
- Obituary and Bibliography of Oswald Veblen (also available here)
- Steve Batterson, The Vision, Insight, and Influence of Oswald Veblen, Notices of the American Mathematical Society, vol. 54, no. 5 (May 2007)