Regius Professor of Mathematics

The Regius Professorship of Mathematics is the name given to three chairs in mathematics at British universities, one at the University of St Andrews, founded by Charles II in 1668,[1] the second one at the University of Warwick, founded in 2013 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II[2][3] and the third one at the University of Oxford, founded in 2016.[4]

Royal Warrant creating a Regius Chair in Mathematics at the University of Warwick

University of St Andrews (1668)

From 1997 to 2015 there was no Regius Professor of Mathematics. In April 2013[5] the post was advertised, and in 2015 Igor Rivin was appointed. He was succeeded by Kenneth Falconer in 2017.

List of Regius Professors of Mathematics

The following list may be incomplete.

• 1668–1674 James Gregory[6]
• 1674–1688 William Sanders[7]
• 1689–1690 James Fenton[7]
• 1690–1707 vacant[7]
• 1707–1739 Charles Gregory[7]
• 1739–1765 David Gregory[8]
• 1765–1807 Nicolas Vilant[8]
• 1807–1809 vacant[9]
• 1809–1820 Robert Haldane[10]
• 1820–1858 Thomas Duncan[11]
• 1857–1858 John Couch Adams[12]
• 1859–1877 William L F Fischer[13]
• 1877–1879 George Chrystal[13]
• 1879–1921 Peter Redford Scott Lang[14]
• 1921–1950 Herbert Westren Turnbull[15]
• 1950–1969 Edward Thomas Copson[16]
• 1970–1997 John Mackintosh Howie[17]
• 1997–2015 vacant
• 2015–2017 Igor Rivin[18]
• 2017–present Kenneth Falconer[19]

University of Warwick (2013)

The creation of the post of the Regius Professor of Mathematics was announced in January 2013,[2][3] in March 2014 Martin Hairer was appointed to the position.

University of Oxford (2016)

The creation of the post of the Regius Professor of Mathematics was announced in June 2016[4] and Andrew Wiles was appointed as the first holder of the chair in May 2018.[20]

In August 2020, it was announced that the Regius Professorship in Mathematics at the University of Oxford will become a permanent fixture at Merton College.[21]

References

1. Pirie-Gordon, Penny, A Portrait of James Gregory FRS (PDF), The Baronage Press Ltd., retrieved 2009-03-24
2. "New Regius Professorships announced for 12 universities". Times Higher Education Supplement. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
3. "Cabinet Office: The Queen awards prestigious Regius professorships to twelve universities" (Press release). PoliticsHome. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
4. "Oxford Mathematics awarded Regius Professorship for the Queen's 90th birthday". Mathematics Institute, University of Oxford. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
5. "Regius Professor of Mathematics - ME837". Jobs.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
6. Pycior, Helena Mary (1997), Symbols, Impossible Numbers, and Geometric Entanglements: British Algebra Through the Commentaries on Newton's Universal Arithmetick (illustrated ed.), Cambridge University Press, p. 243, ISBN 0-521-48124-4
7. J. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (1996) Mathematics in St Andrews to 1700; on the Website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015.
8. J. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2010) Nicolas Vilant, on the website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015.
9. J. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2006) Robert Haldane; MacTutor History of Mathematics; read 27. November 2015.
10. Robert Haldane, The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, retrieved 2009-03-25
11. Alex D. D. Craik (2008) Mr Hopkins' Men: Cambridge Reform and British Mathematics in the 19th Century; Springer.
12. J. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2005) John Couch Adams on the website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015.
13. Scotland in 1883 and the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, retrieved 2009-03-24
14. "Chairs and Professors of Universities in the United Kingdom". Who's Who Year-book for 1908. p. 138.
15. Herbert Westren Turnbull, The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, retrieved 2009-03-24
16. E T Copson appointed Regius professor at St Andrews, University of St Andrews, 1950, retrieved 2009-03-24
17. London Gazette announcement of Howie's appointment
18. "New Regius and Gregory Professors appointed". University of St Andrews. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
19. London Gazette announcement of Falconer's appointment
20. University of Oxford, Sir Andrew Wiles appointed first Regius Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, 31 May 2018
21. "Regius Chair in Mathematics stays at Merton". Merton College, Oxford. Retrieved 2020-08-16.