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George Chrystal
Times obituary
Professor George Chrystal, Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University, died yesterday at his residence in Edinburgh. Professor Chrystal had been indisposed for some time and recently underwent a serious operation.
He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and University, where he had a brilliant career. From Aberdeen he proceeded to Peterhouse, Cambridge, and there he was Members' Prizeman for an English essay in 1873 and Smith's Prizeman in Mathematics in 1878. Like Kelvin and Clerk-Maxwell, he was Second Wrangler of his year (1875). Associating himself with Clerk-Maxwell, Chrystal first turned his attention mainly to physics, and for some years he was better known to the scientific world as a physicist than as a mathematician. He was elected to a Fellowship at Corpus Christi College, of which he was also Lecturer, and the college subsequently elected him an honorary Fellow. In 1877 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at St. Andrews University, and two years later he was elected to the chair of mathematics at Edinburgh. Professor Chrystal's reputation as a mathematician was very high. As Dean of the Faculty of Arts he rendered valuable service to Edinburgh University. He was a strong personality, and as a teacher he was kind and sympathetic. His published works include a treatise on algebra, articles in the Encyclopedia Britannica on electricity, magnetism, etc., and contributions to scientific journals, in particular a series of memoirs on the oscillations of lakes.
Professor Chrystal was very interested in the Royal Society of Scotland and, at the time of his death, was secretary. He was largely instrumental in the movement that led to the transfer of the buildings from the Mound to those in George Street. When the provincial committees for the training of teachers were set up, Professor Chrystal was the first chairman of the Edinburgh Committee.
He is survived by four sons and two daughters.
Professor George Chrystal, Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University, died yesterday at his residence in Edinburgh. Professor Chrystal had been indisposed for some time and recently underwent a serious operation.
He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and University, where he had a brilliant career. From Aberdeen he proceeded to Peterhouse, Cambridge, and there he was Members' Prizeman for an English essay in 1873 and Smith's Prizeman in Mathematics in 1878. Like Kelvin and Clerk-Maxwell, he was Second Wrangler of his year (1875). Associating himself with Clerk-Maxwell, Chrystal first turned his attention mainly to physics, and for some years he was better known to the scientific world as a physicist than as a mathematician. He was elected to a Fellowship at Corpus Christi College, of which he was also Lecturer, and the college subsequently elected him an honorary Fellow. In 1877 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at St. Andrews University, and two years later he was elected to the chair of mathematics at Edinburgh. Professor Chrystal's reputation as a mathematician was very high. As Dean of the Faculty of Arts he rendered valuable service to Edinburgh University. He was a strong personality, and as a teacher he was kind and sympathetic. His published works include a treatise on algebra, articles in the Encyclopedia Britannica on electricity, magnetism, etc., and contributions to scientific journals, in particular a series of memoirs on the oscillations of lakes.
Professor Chrystal was very interested in the Royal Society of Scotland and, at the time of his death, was secretary. He was largely instrumental in the movement that led to the transfer of the buildings from the Mound to those in George Street. When the provincial committees for the training of teachers were set up, Professor Chrystal was the first chairman of the Edinburgh Committee.
He is survived by four sons and two daughters.
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