Richard Davis Anderson
Encyclopedia
Richard Davis Anderson, Sr. (17 February 1922 – 4 March 2008) was an American mathematician known internationally for his work in infinite-dimensional topology
. Much of his early work focused on proofs surrounding Hilbert space
and Hilbert cube
s.
. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Minnesota
in 1941, after just two years of study. He went on to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin
, where he studied under R. L. Moore. His graduate work was interrupted by World War II
. Two days after the Japan
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
, he enlisted in the United States Navy
. During his term in the U. S. Navy, he served on the USS Rocky Mount. After returning from the war, he finished his doctoral work at the University of Texas and went on to teach mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania
, where he went through the ranks of Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor. During this time he also spent two years at the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton, New Jersey
. He then accepted a post at Louisiana State University
, where he became the university's first Boyd Professor of mathematics. Boyd professor is Louisiana State University's highest professor rank.
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
. Much of his early work focused on proofs surrounding Hilbert space
Hilbert space
The mathematical concept of a Hilbert space, named after David Hilbert, generalizes the notion of Euclidean space. It extends the methods of vector algebra and calculus from the two-dimensional Euclidean plane and three-dimensional space to spaces with any finite or infinite number of dimensions...
and Hilbert cube
Hilbert cube
In mathematics, the Hilbert cube, named after David Hilbert, is a topological space that provides an instructive example of some ideas in topology...
s.
Life
Richard Anderson and his twin brother, John, were born February 17, 1922 in Hamden, ConnecticutHamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1941, after just two years of study. He went on to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he studied under R. L. Moore. His graduate work was interrupted by 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...
. Two days after the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, he enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. During his term in the U. S. Navy, he served on the USS Rocky Mount. After returning from the war, he finished his doctoral work at the University of Texas and went on to teach mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he went through the ranks of Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor. During this time he also spent two years at 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, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. He then accepted a post at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, where he became the university's first Boyd Professor of mathematics. Boyd professor is Louisiana State University's highest professor rank.
Accomplishments
- Served as vice president of the American Mathematical SocietyAmerican Mathematical SocietyThe 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...
in 1972 and 1973. - Served as president of the Mathematical Association of AmericaMathematical Association of AmericaThe Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
in 1981 and 1982. - Served as chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents in 1984.
- Received the Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of AmericaMathematical Association of AmericaThe Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
in 1978. - Received the Bolzano Medal from the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences in 1981.
- Invited lectures at conferences and colloquia in many places in the USA and in cities of 21 other countries.