Ralph Tambs-Lyche
Encyclopedia
Ralph Tambs-Lyche was a Norwegian mathematician.
He was born in Macon, Georgia
as a son of Norwegian father Hans Tambs Lyche
(1859–1898) and American mother Mary Rebecca Godden (1856–1938). He moved to Norway at the age of two. He finished
his secondary education in Fredrikstad in 1908, and was hired as an assistant for Richard Birkeland at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
in 1910. At the same time he studied at the Royal Frederick University
, graduating with the cand.real. degree in 1916.
He was hired as a docent
in mathematics at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
in 1918. He took his doctorate in Strasbourg
in 1927 following a two-year fellowship there. In 1937 he was promoted to professor, a position he held until 1950. He was then a professor at the University of Oslo
until his retirement in 1961, then a visiting professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder from 1961 to 1962. His fields were mathematical analysis
, function theory, algebra
and number theory
. He penned about 60 mathematical works, and also a few publications in botany
; he was a hobby herbarist
. He also became widely known for his mathematical textbooks, both for the upper secondary school (Matematikk for den høgre skolen) and another for technical colleges and universities (Lærebok i matematisk analyse). He was an editorial board member of the journal Nordisk Matematisk Tidsskrift from 1954 to 1960.
He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1927, and of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1929. From 1946 to 1950 he was the secretary-general of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, and he chaired the Norwegian Mathematical Society
from 1953 to 1959 and the Norwegian Botanical Society from 1957 to 1959. He chaired the Student Society in Trondheim in 1920, and later held speeches during political meetings there. He was a member of Clarté
, affiliated with Mot Dag
. He denounced communism after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
of 1939. During the martial law in Trondheim in 1942
, organized by the occupying Nazi authorities
, he was imprisoned at Falstad concentration camp
. He was one of the first prisoners there; he had the prisoner number 53. He avoided execution unlike some others who were arrested during martial law, but he remained imprisoned from 9 March 1942 to 3 August 1943.
Ralph Tambs-Lyche was the father of solidarity activist Guri Tambs-Lyche
. His wife Elsa was a pioneer in maternal hygiene work. He died in January 1991, at the age of 100.
He was born in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
as a son of Norwegian father Hans Tambs Lyche
Hans Tambs Lyche
Hans Tambs Lyche was a Norwegian engineer, unitarian minister, journalist and magazine editor.-Background:...
(1859–1898) and American mother Mary Rebecca Godden (1856–1938). He moved to Norway at the age of two. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in Fredrikstad in 1908, and was hired as an assistant for Richard Birkeland at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
in 1910. At the same time he studied at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, graduating with the cand.real. degree in 1916.
He was hired as a docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
in mathematics at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
in 1918. He took his doctorate in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 1927 following a two-year fellowship there. In 1937 he was promoted to professor, a position he held until 1950. He was then a professor at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
until his retirement in 1961, then a visiting professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder from 1961 to 1962. His fields were mathematical analysis
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical analysis, which mathematicians refer to simply as analysis, has its beginnings in the rigorous formulation of infinitesimal calculus. It is a branch of pure mathematics that includes the theories of differentiation, integration and measure, limits, infinite series, and analytic functions...
, function theory, algebra
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
and number theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
. He penned about 60 mathematical works, and also a few publications in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
; he was a hobby herbarist
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
. He also became widely known for his mathematical textbooks, both for the upper secondary school (Matematikk for den høgre skolen) and another for technical colleges and universities (Lærebok i matematisk analyse). He was an editorial board member of the journal Nordisk Matematisk Tidsskrift from 1954 to 1960.
He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
from 1927, and of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1929. From 1946 to 1950 he was the secretary-general of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, and he chaired the Norwegian Mathematical Society
Norwegian Mathematical Society
The Norwegian Mathematical Society is a professional society for mathematicians. It also organizes mathematical contests and the annual Abel symposium. It was formed in 1918, with Carl Størmer elected as its first president....
from 1953 to 1959 and the Norwegian Botanical Society from 1957 to 1959. He chaired the Student Society in Trondheim in 1920, and later held speeches during political meetings there. He was a member of Clarté
Clarté (Norway)
Clarté was a socialist and pacifist organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1925, and had its roots in a French-based international organization of the same name...
, affiliated with Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
. He denounced communism after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, was an agreement officially titled the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and signed in Moscow in the late hours of 23 August 1939...
of 1939. During the martial law in Trondheim in 1942
Martial law in Trondheim in 1942
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, the occupying powers imposed martial law in Trondheim and surrounding areas effective October 6, 1942 through October 12, 1942. During this time, 34 Norwegians were murdered by extrajudicial execution...
, organized by the occupying Nazi authorities
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, he was imprisoned at Falstad concentration camp
Falstad concentration camp
Falstad concentration camp was a prison camp in the village of Ekne in what was the municipality of Skogn in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway...
. He was one of the first prisoners there; he had the prisoner number 53. He avoided execution unlike some others who were arrested during martial law, but he remained imprisoned from 9 March 1942 to 3 August 1943.
Ralph Tambs-Lyche was the father of solidarity activist Guri Tambs-Lyche
Guri Tambs-Lyche
Guri Tambs-Lyche was a Norwegian activist for international solidarity and women's rights.She was born in Trondheim as a daughter of Ralph Tambs-Lyche and Elsa Rasmussen. Her father was a mathematician and Mot Dag affiliate, and from an early age Guri Tambs-Lyche was influenced by her father's...
. His wife Elsa was a pioneer in maternal hygiene work. He died in January 1991, at the age of 100.