Sir Edmund Taylor Whittaker (15 June 1873 – 22 March 1956) was an English mathematician, physicist, and historian of science. He made significant contributions to mathematical analysis, applied mathematics, and theoretical physics, and authored several influential textbooks and historical works.
Early life and education
Whittaker was born in Southport, Lancashire, England. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895 and was elected to a fellowship at Trinity College. He completed his Doctor of Science degree in 1899.
Academic career
Whittaker held the following academic positions:
- University of Leeds – Lecturer in mathematics (1900–1906).
- University of Cambridge – Professor of mathematics, holding the prestigious professorship of the Lucasian Chair from 1930 to 1944.
- University of Edinburgh – Professor of natural philosophy (mathematics) from 1906 to 1930, where he succeeded Peter Guthrie Tait.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1905 and received numerous honors, including a knighthood in 1949.
Scientific contributions
Mathematics
- Developed the theory of special functions, particularly the Whittaker functions (solutions to the Whittaker differential equation, a confluent form of the hypergeometric equation).
- Co‑authored A Course of Modern Analysis (1902, with George B. Airy) with G. N. Watson, a standard reference on complex analysis, asymptotic expansions, and special functions.
- Contributed to the theory of Fourier series, integral transforms, and partial differential equations.
Physics
- Worked on electromagnetism and relativity, publishing A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity (1909) and The Theory of Relativity (1910).
- Proposed the Whittaker–Gaveau conjecture concerning the foundational axioms of special relativity (later clarified in subsequent literature).
- Contributed to the development of quantum mechanics through his writings on wave‑mechanical formulations.
Historical scholarship
Whittaker authored several comprehensive histories of physics, notably:
- A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity (1909, 2 vols.) – a detailed account of the evolution of electromagnetic theory.
- The Calculus of Observations (1910) – chronicling the mathematical methods used in astronomical and geodetic measurements.
These works are valued for their scholarly rigor and breadth.
Publications (selected)
- A Treatise on the Analytical Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (1904).
- The Principles of Statistical Mechanics (1925).
- The Theory of Potential (1927).
- Mathematical Notation: A Guide for Engineers and Scientists (1941).
Legacy
Whittaker's textbooks and research articles shaped 20th‑century mathematical physics education. The Whittaker function remains a standard element in the analysis of differential equations in mathematical physics. His historical works continue to serve as reference points for scholars studying the development of scientific ideas.
Personal life
Whittaker married Ethel Mary Crosfield in 1903; they had three children. He was an avid mountaineer and enjoyed classical literature. He retired from active teaching in 1944 but remained engaged in scientific discourse until his death in Cambridge.
References
- Whittaker, E. T., & Watson, G. N. (1902). A Course of Modern Analysis. Cambridge University Press.
- St. John, R. (1978). Sir Edmund Taylor Whittaker: A Biographical Memoir. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 24, 1–30.
- L. C. K. (2002). The Whittaker Functions and Their Applications. Journal of Mathematical Physics, 43(4), 1809–1823.
External links
- Royal Society archive (biography)
- MacTutor History of Mathematics archive entry on E. T. Whittaker