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Douglas Hartree
Times obituary
Dr. Douglas Rayner Hartree, F.R.S., Plummer Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge since 1946, died on Wednesday at the age of 60.
Although for more than 15 years before and during the last war he worked at Manchester University, he was very much a Cambridge man. Born in that city on March 27, 1897, he received his early education there, and then, after attending Bedales, he won an entrance scholarship to St. John's College, Cambridge.
The 1914-18 War interrupted his studies, and he was attached, in the latter part of it, to the anti-aircraft experimental section of the Munitions Inventions Department. Returning to Cambridge, he took a second in the Natural Science Tripos in 1922 and two years later was appointed a Fellow of his college.
In 1928 he became a fellow of Christ's College, and in the following year he moved to Manchester, where he took up an appointment as Beyer Professor of Applied Mathematics at the university. He was given a new chair in 1937, that of Theoretical Physics. He remained there until after the war, during which time he was temporarily attached to the scientific staff of the Ministry of Supply, and in 1946 he returned to his old university. He visited America at least twice, the last time in 1955 as a visiting professor at Princeton University.
He married Elaine Charlton in 1923. There were two sons and one daughter from the marriage.
A correspondent writes:
Douglas Hartree first became known in the scientific world for the development of "self-consistent fields." By this method, he was able to apply the then relatively new quantum theory to the structure of atoms and to obtain numerical answers. This led him to an interest in numerical calculations, which later became one of his major pre-occupations. He played a large part in the introduction, first of the differential analyzer and later of high-speed electronic calculating machines, into this country. His field of interest in applied mathematics was very broad, and he never spared himself in helping those who brought their problems to him. Much of his time since his election to his last post was spent in the Cavendish Laboratory, but he took a deep and practical interest in the development of the mathematical laboratory.
The kindest of men, he set up or recognized no barriers between himself and others; differences in age, in particular, meant nothing to him, and men a fraction of his age felt at ease in his presence. He was still actively at work and making plans for the future, and his sudden death will be mourned by many friends
Dr. Douglas Rayner Hartree, F.R.S., Plummer Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge since 1946, died on Wednesday at the age of 60.
Although for more than 15 years before and during the last war he worked at Manchester University, he was very much a Cambridge man. Born in that city on March 27, 1897, he received his early education there, and then, after attending Bedales, he won an entrance scholarship to St. John's College, Cambridge.
The 1914-18 War interrupted his studies, and he was attached, in the latter part of it, to the anti-aircraft experimental section of the Munitions Inventions Department. Returning to Cambridge, he took a second in the Natural Science Tripos in 1922 and two years later was appointed a Fellow of his college.
In 1928 he became a fellow of Christ's College, and in the following year he moved to Manchester, where he took up an appointment as Beyer Professor of Applied Mathematics at the university. He was given a new chair in 1937, that of Theoretical Physics. He remained there until after the war, during which time he was temporarily attached to the scientific staff of the Ministry of Supply, and in 1946 he returned to his old university. He visited America at least twice, the last time in 1955 as a visiting professor at Princeton University.
He married Elaine Charlton in 1923. There were two sons and one daughter from the marriage.
A correspondent writes:
Douglas Hartree first became known in the scientific world for the development of "self-consistent fields." By this method, he was able to apply the then relatively new quantum theory to the structure of atoms and to obtain numerical answers. This led him to an interest in numerical calculations, which later became one of his major pre-occupations. He played a large part in the introduction, first of the differential analyzer and later of high-speed electronic calculating machines, into this country. His field of interest in applied mathematics was very broad, and he never spared himself in helping those who brought their problems to him. Much of his time since his election to his last post was spent in the Cavendish Laboratory, but he took a deep and practical interest in the development of the mathematical laboratory.
The kindest of men, he set up or recognized no barriers between himself and others; differences in age, in particular, meant nothing to him, and men a fraction of his age felt at ease in his presence. He was still actively at work and making plans for the future, and his sudden death will be mourned by many friends
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