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Evan (Ianto) Davies
Times obituary
Mathematician of breadth
Professor Evan Tom Davies, who died at Waterloo, Canada, in his sixty-ninth year, was a mathematician of great Britain, a man of many interests and accomplishments. Fluent in five languages, he delighted in friendships of an international range, from world-renowned academics to the simplest people.
He was born in Pencader, Carmarthenshire, of farming stock, and throughout his life retained a passionate regard for Welsh culture.
Graduating from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, he was prompted by the Hungarian mathematician, Paul Dienes, to seek his postgraduate experience in Europe. In 1926, he travelled to Rome to study under Tullio Levi-Civita, leaving in 1928 for the Sorbonne and Collège de France, Paris, where he came under the influence of Élie Cartan.
Steeped in this atmosphere of mathematical excellence for two years, he started his career as a university teacher at King's College, London. His steady stream of publications is testament to his authority in the fields of Riemannian geometry and the calculus of variations. His Celtic fluency and enthusiasm, together with his fertility of ideas, surrounded him with research students, in whom he took a keen and friendly interest.
In 1946, Ianto, as he was affectionately known, was appointed to the chair of mathematics at University College, Southampton. Research flourished under his guidance, and the department's growth from a staff of six to a multi-professorial one of more than sixty was
accomplished with typical zeal. His home was a centre for his many associations. On his retirement at the age of 65, the university conferred on him the title of emeritus professor and established the E. T. Davies annual prize.
The retirement was in name only. Davies proceeded to Canada, where for two years he was chairman of the department of pure mathematics at Calgary University. Finally, he joined the staff at the University of Waterloo as Professor of Mathematics.
He was married with a son.
Mathematician of breadth
Professor Evan Tom Davies, who died at Waterloo, Canada, in his sixty-ninth year, was a mathematician of great Britain, a man of many interests and accomplishments. Fluent in five languages, he delighted in friendships of an international range, from world-renowned academics to the simplest people.
He was born in Pencader, Carmarthenshire, of farming stock, and throughout his life retained a passionate regard for Welsh culture.
Graduating from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, he was prompted by the Hungarian mathematician, Paul Dienes, to seek his postgraduate experience in Europe. In 1926, he travelled to Rome to study under Tullio Levi-Civita, leaving in 1928 for the Sorbonne and Collège de France, Paris, where he came under the influence of Élie Cartan.
Steeped in this atmosphere of mathematical excellence for two years, he started his career as a university teacher at King's College, London. His steady stream of publications is testament to his authority in the fields of Riemannian geometry and the calculus of variations. His Celtic fluency and enthusiasm, together with his fertility of ideas, surrounded him with research students, in whom he took a keen and friendly interest.
In 1946, Ianto, as he was affectionately known, was appointed to the chair of mathematics at University College, Southampton. Research flourished under his guidance, and the department's growth from a staff of six to a multi-professorial one of more than sixty was
accomplished with typical zeal. His home was a centre for his many associations. On his retirement at the age of 65, the university conferred on him the title of emeritus professor and established the E. T. Davies annual prize.
The retirement was in name only. Davies proceeded to Canada, where for two years he was chairman of the department of pure mathematics at Calgary University. Finally, he joined the staff at the University of Waterloo as Professor of Mathematics.
He was married with a son.
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