William Smyth (professor)

William Smyth (February 2, 1797 – April 3, 1868) was an American academic and writer on mathematics and other subjects.

William Smyth
Born(1797-02-02)February 2, 1797
Pittston, Maine
DiedApril 3, 1868(1868-04-03) (aged 71)
Brunswick, Maine
Education
OccupationAcademic

Biography

William Smyth was born in Pittston, Maine on February 2, 1797.[1] He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822, then studied theology at Phillips Academy Andover. In 1825, he became a professor of mathematics at Bowdoin College, and in 1846 became an associate professor of natural philosophy. The Bowdoin College Department of Mathematics Smyth Prize is named in his honor.

Smyth was an ardent abolitionist of slavery and supporter of the temperance movement. While at Bowdoin, Smyth supported the effort to the First Parish Church, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

He died in Brunswick, Maine in April 1868.[1] He is interred at Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick.[2]

Bibliography

Smyth wrote several widely used textbooks:

References
  1. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. X. J. T. White Company. 1900. p. 474. Retrieved July 24, 2020 – via Google Books.
  2. "Pine Grove Cemetery Walking Tour" (PDF). Pejescot Historical Society. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  • Bowdoin College Catalogue 1840-1848. Bowdoin College Catalogue. George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives. Bowdoin College Library.
  • Smyth Prize
  • An article whose original source is the controversial Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, originally published in 1887-1889, and republished in 1999.
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