Hart, Sir Andrew Searle

(1811-1890), mathematician

by G. C. Boase, rev. Julia Tompson

© Oxford University Press 2004 All rights reserved

Hart, Sir Andrew Searle (1811-1890), mathematician, was born on 14 March 1811 at Limerick, the youngest son of the Revd George Vaughan Hart of Glenalla, co. Donegal, and Maria Murray, daughter of the Very Revd John Hume, dean of Derry. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1828, graduated BA in 1833, and proceeded MA in 1839, and LLB and LLD in 1840. While a student he was a close friend of Isaac Butt, later leader of the Home Rule Party, but then still a Conservative. Their friendship continued even after their political views diverged. Hart was elected a fellow of Trinity College, on 15 June 1835, was co-opted senior fellow on 10 July 1858, and was elected vice-provost in 1876.

In 1840 Hart married Frances, daughter of Henry MacDougall, QC, of Dublin; she died in 1876. They had two sons: George Vaughan, who became a barrister, and Henry Chichester, of Carrablagh, co. Donegal. Hart took an active interest in the affairs of the Irish church, and was for many years a member of the general synod and Representative Church Body. He obtained a considerable reputation as a mathematician, and published treatises on mechanics (1844, 1847) and the theory of fluids (1846, 1850). Between 1849 and 1861 he contributed valuable papers to the Cambridge and Dublin Mathematical Journal, to the Proceedings of the Irish Academy, and to the Quarterly Journal of Mathematics, principally on the subject of geodesic lines and on curves. On 25 January 1886 he was knighted at Dublin Castle by the lord lieutenant, Lord Carnarvon, 'in recognition of his academic rank and attainments'. He died suddenly at Kilderry House, Kilderry, co. Donegal, the residence of his brother-in-law, George Vaughan Hart, on 13 April 1890.

G. C. BOASE, rev. JULIA TOMPSON

Sources  
Freeman's Journal [Dublin] (26 Jan 1886), 5
Dublin Gazette (29 Jan 1886), 94
The Times (15 April 1890), 6
Burke, Gen. GB

Likenesses  
J. B. Yeats, oils, TCD

Wealth at death  
£3114 4s. 7d.: probate, 7 June 1890, CGPLA Ire.


© Oxford University Press 2004 All rights reserved

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