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Albert Ingham
Times obituary
Mathematical Research
Mr. A. E. Ingham, F.R.S., Reader in Mathematical Analysis at the University of Cambridge and fellow of King's College, died on Wednesday in Switzerland. He was 67.
Albert Edward Ingham was born on April 3, 1900, and went into residence in 1919 as a scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, from Stafford Grammar School. After being a wrangler with distinction in the Mathematical Tripos, he began research in the analytic theory of numbers. Notable advances in this branch of mathematics, notorious for its difficulty, were being made by G. H. Hardy and J. E. Littlewood. Research was not then organized under a supervisor in the way that it has been in later years, and it is likely that Ingham needed little direct guidance, but there can be no doubt of Littlewood's encouraging influence. Ingham was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1922 at his first attempt. He was also an 1851 Exhibition senior student. After a few years in Cambridge and a few months in Germany, he went to Leeds University as a Reader in 1926. In 1930, he returned to Cambridge to be a university lecturer, fellow of King's, and director of studies. He was appointed Reader in Mathematical Analysis in 1953.
Ingham continued throughout his career to work on the theory of numbers and branches of analysis closely related to it. His contributions to problems of great difficulty led to his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945. All his writings are models of lucid exposition. His one book, the Cambridge tract on The Distribution of Prime Numbers, was published in 1932. When it ran out of print, Ingham could never be persuaded to prepare a second edition. The partial rewriting necessary to bring it up to date would have meant, with his exacting standards, more trouble than he could face.
Ingham was the embodiment of meticulous accuracy. Nothing slipped from his hand, his tongue, or his pen. He lectured with force and clarity. He would apply the same standards to chores (such as setting examination questions) over which most dons are sparing of time and effort. His friends believed that, if he could have treated trifles more lightly, some of the problems still intact might have been reduced by his magnificent analytical power.
From 1932, he had the invaluable support of his wife, "Jane," formerly Rose Marie Tuper-Carey. Two years after his retirement from college teaching in 1959, he had the great satisfaction of seeing the elder of his two sons admitted to a fellowship.
Mathematical Research
Mr. A. E. Ingham, F.R.S., Reader in Mathematical Analysis at the University of Cambridge and fellow of King's College, died on Wednesday in Switzerland. He was 67.
Albert Edward Ingham was born on April 3, 1900, and went into residence in 1919 as a scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, from Stafford Grammar School. After being a wrangler with distinction in the Mathematical Tripos, he began research in the analytic theory of numbers. Notable advances in this branch of mathematics, notorious for its difficulty, were being made by G. H. Hardy and J. E. Littlewood. Research was not then organized under a supervisor in the way that it has been in later years, and it is likely that Ingham needed little direct guidance, but there can be no doubt of Littlewood's encouraging influence. Ingham was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1922 at his first attempt. He was also an 1851 Exhibition senior student. After a few years in Cambridge and a few months in Germany, he went to Leeds University as a Reader in 1926. In 1930, he returned to Cambridge to be a university lecturer, fellow of King's, and director of studies. He was appointed Reader in Mathematical Analysis in 1953.
Ingham continued throughout his career to work on the theory of numbers and branches of analysis closely related to it. His contributions to problems of great difficulty led to his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945. All his writings are models of lucid exposition. His one book, the Cambridge tract on The Distribution of Prime Numbers, was published in 1932. When it ran out of print, Ingham could never be persuaded to prepare a second edition. The partial rewriting necessary to bring it up to date would have meant, with his exacting standards, more trouble than he could face.
Ingham was the embodiment of meticulous accuracy. Nothing slipped from his hand, his tongue, or his pen. He lectured with force and clarity. He would apply the same standards to chores (such as setting examination questions) over which most dons are sparing of time and effort. His friends believed that, if he could have treated trifles more lightly, some of the problems still intact might have been reduced by his magnificent analytical power.
From 1932, he had the invaluable support of his wife, "Jane," formerly Rose Marie Tuper-Carey. Two years after his retirement from college teaching in 1959, he had the great satisfaction of seeing the elder of his two sons admitted to a fellowship.
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