ALEXANDER D RUSSELL

EMS obituary


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It is with deep regret that we record the death on 20th January 1955 of Mr Alexander Durie Russell, who was for many years Principal Teacher of Mathematics in Falkirk High School.

Mr Russell was a native of Edinburgh and received his secondary education at George Heriot's School. He then proceeded to the University of Edinburgh where he graduated B.Sc. with honours in mathematics and natural philosophy in 1896 and was awarded the Neil Arnott Scholarship in Experimental Physics.

Before going to Falkirk, where he spent nearly the whole of his teaching life, Mr Russell acted for a year as Demonstrator in Physics in the University and taught for one year in Morelands School, Edinburgh and for two years in Stranraer High School. In Falkirk, he rendered signal service to the High School and also to the Science and Art School, where he conducted continuation classes. He proved himself to be an inspiring and successful teacher, and his contribution to the general good of the Falkirk district would be hard to overestimate. His enthusiasm for mathematics was very real and he contributed several papers to the Edinburgh Mathematical Notes. He served our Society well, having acted at one time as Treasurer and then as President. In 1906, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and be was also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Mr Russell was a keen churchman and was an elder of St Modan's Church, Falkirk. He was highly respected in the community for his personal character, ability and devotion to duty, and he will be greatly missed.

The sympathy of the Society is extended to his widow in her bereavement.

This obituary appeared in the Edinburgh Mathematical Notes.