Alexander Oppenheim
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Oppenheim, OBE
FRSE
Knight Bachelor
PMN (4 February 1903– 13 December 1997) was a British mathematician and philanthropist. In mathematics, his most notable contribution is his Oppenheim conjecture
. Sir Sydney Caine
, the director of The London School of Economics
, and a former colleague of Oppenheim's in Malaysia, called him "a great mathematician, and an even greater humanitarian." Sir Oppenheim was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received foreign honors from several other monarchies and institutions.
, England
. He attended Manchester Grammar School
. Oppenheim taught himself mathematics from an early age, and first began solving individual Diophantine equations in his teens. Oppenheim received a scholarship to and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford
, earning a First Class Degree with honors. While at the University of Oxford, Oppenheim was captain of the chess team. Upon graduation, after being awarded the bachelor's and master's, Oppenheim was awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship to study at Princeton University
and The University of Chicago
, where he completed a doctorate in 1930 under L.E. Dickson
. Oppenheim’s research focused on the ergodic properties of actions of subgroups of semisimple Lie groups. In 1929, Opppenheim's conjecture was published and presented to The National Academy of Sciences
. In 1930, Oppenheim was awarded the Ph.D. at The University of Chicago
, after defending his prize winning thesis, "Minima of Indefinite Quadratic Quaternary Forms," the foundation of The Oppenheim Conjecture
. Oppenheim was awarded a second doctorate, D.Sc. from University of Oxford
for additional academic work.
, Oppenheim, who was always sensitive about ill-informed criticism of institutions of higher learning in the developing world, was infuriated when a prominent professor pompously opined that it was only the granting of full university status that allowed research of any significance. In response, Oppenheim decided to draw the attention of the University of Oxford to the mathematical work that he had completed while at Raffles. He not only made his point but his research and contributions were so significant, he was promptly awarded a second doctorate, a D.Sc., in Science, despite the fact he was not an enrolled student in the D.Sc. program. Oppenheim helped transform the tiny unknown Raffles College into the National University of Singapore
, now one of the top research universities in the world. During WWII, Oppenheim who was captured by the Japanese and held as a POW, fled Singapore for a short time to pursue. He pursued research in Switzerland
at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
and at Einstein's alma mater, the ETH
. Oppenheim had a number of interests, including horticulture, growing and raising his own roses, politics, board-games, card-games and intellectual walks. Oppenheim married his first wife Beatrice in 1930, at age 27, with whom he had one child. They had met at the University of Chicago. Oppenheim's wife's sister, Allegra, was also a graduate student at the University of Chicago, earning her Master's Degree in Education. After 47 years of marriage, Oppenheim divorced his first wife in 1977. Oppenheim remarried in 1982 at the age of 79 and had two sons with his second wife. Oppenheim died of natural causes in 1997, at the age of 94. Oppenheim is survived by his second wife, three children, and several nephews and nieces. To the end of his life, he read widely and remained capable of the most perceptive, pithy and amusing commentary on the problems both of old age and of the wider world.
. For his role, Oppenheim was appointed founding director. When Sydney Caine
, the vice chancellor of University of Malaya left to become the Director of the London School of Economics
, he nominated Oppenheim to take his spot as vice-chancellor. In 1957, Oppenheim became Vice Chancellor of UM-Singapore and in 1962 he became the Vice Chancellor of UM-Kuala Lumpur. As vice chancellor of both universities, Oppenheim worked closely with Tunku Abdul Rahman
in planning and executing all organizational aspects including obtaining private funding and approval from the Islamic Monarchy to complete the second merger in 1962 of both Universities of Malaya, forming later the National University of Singapore
. After retiring from his post in the vice chancellory in 1965, Oppenheim served as visiting professor at the University of Reading
in Berkshire, United Kingdom. Then from 1968–73, he taught at the former University of London
campus and affiliate college, the University of Ghana
in Africa alongside other notable expats including Conor Cruise O'Brien
and Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby
. Oppenheim was recruited by Alex Kwapong, the former president of the United Nations University to the University of Benin. The two were often to be observed striding along in the humid early tropical mornings, deep in conversation whilst swinging heavy walking sticks to discourage the curiosity of the local canine population. In Nigeria, Oppenheim was much liked by Nigerians and his wide experience, impeccable manners, and cool advice were generally widely appreciated.
by Queen Elizabeth II in 1955. Oppenheim was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
in 1956 and was created a Knight Bachelor
in the New Year's Honours, 1961. He also received the distinguished alumni medal from the University of Chicago
. Oppenheim received an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Hong Kong in 1961, an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Leeds
in 1966 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Malaya
. Oppenheim was appointed Honorary Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm by Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
. Oppenheim had been a member of the London Mathematical Society
of long-standing, leaving the Society a substantial bequest.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FRSE
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
PMN (4 February 1903– 13 December 1997) was a British mathematician and philanthropist. In mathematics, his most notable contribution is his Oppenheim conjecture
Oppenheim conjecture
In Diophantine approximation, the Oppenheim conjecture concerns representations of numbers by real quadratic forms in several variables. It was formulated in 1929 by Alexander Oppenheim and later the conjectured property was further strengthened by Davenport and Oppenheim...
. Sir Sydney Caine
Sydney Caine
Sir Sydney Caine' KCMG was an educator and economist. He was appointed the Director of the LSE between 1957 and 1967. He was an alumnus of the LSE and before his appointment as Director of the school he was a well known economist who had acted as a Consultant for the World Bank for a period of...
, the director of The London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and a former colleague of Oppenheim's in Malaysia, called him "a great mathematician, and an even greater humanitarian." Sir Oppenheim was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received foreign honors from several other monarchies and institutions.
Early Life and Mathematical Work
Oppenheim was born on 4 February 1903 in SalfordCity of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He attended Manchester Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
. Oppenheim taught himself mathematics from an early age, and first began solving individual Diophantine equations in his teens. Oppenheim received a scholarship to and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, earning a First Class Degree with honors. While at the University of Oxford, Oppenheim was captain of the chess team. Upon graduation, after being awarded the bachelor's and master's, Oppenheim was awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship to study at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and The University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he completed a doctorate in 1930 under L.E. Dickson
Leonard Eugene Dickson
Leonard Eugene Dickson was an American mathematician. He was one of the first American researchers in abstract algebra, in particular the theory of finite fields and classical groups, and is also remembered for a three-volume history of number theory.-Life:Dickson considered himself a Texan by...
. Oppenheim’s research focused on the ergodic properties of actions of subgroups of semisimple Lie groups. In 1929, Opppenheim's conjecture was published and presented to The National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. In 1930, Oppenheim was awarded the Ph.D. at The University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, after defending his prize winning thesis, "Minima of Indefinite Quadratic Quaternary Forms," the foundation of The Oppenheim Conjecture
Oppenheim conjecture
In Diophantine approximation, the Oppenheim conjecture concerns representations of numbers by real quadratic forms in several variables. It was formulated in 1929 by Alexander Oppenheim and later the conjectured property was further strengthened by Davenport and Oppenheim...
. Oppenheim was awarded a second doctorate, D.Sc. from University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
for additional academic work.
Academic and later life
After earning his first doctorate, Oppenheim entered academia. He immediately took up a lectureship at Edinburgh University in Scotland and then to the surprise of many, he left for Raffles College in Malaysia. According to The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Oppenheim, who was always sensitive about ill-informed criticism of institutions of higher learning in the developing world, was infuriated when a prominent professor pompously opined that it was only the granting of full university status that allowed research of any significance. In response, Oppenheim decided to draw the attention of the University of Oxford to the mathematical work that he had completed while at Raffles. He not only made his point but his research and contributions were so significant, he was promptly awarded a second doctorate, a D.Sc., in Science, despite the fact he was not an enrolled student in the D.Sc. program. Oppenheim helped transform the tiny unknown Raffles College into the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
, now one of the top research universities in the world. During WWII, Oppenheim who was captured by the Japanese and held as a POW, fled Singapore for a short time to pursue. He pursued research in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
and at Einstein's alma mater, the ETH
Eth
Eth is a letter used in Old English, Icelandic, Faroese , and Elfdalian. It was also used in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, but was subsequently replaced with dh and later d. The capital eth resembles a D with a line through the vertical stroke...
. Oppenheim had a number of interests, including horticulture, growing and raising his own roses, politics, board-games, card-games and intellectual walks. Oppenheim married his first wife Beatrice in 1930, at age 27, with whom he had one child. They had met at the University of Chicago. Oppenheim's wife's sister, Allegra, was also a graduate student at the University of Chicago, earning her Master's Degree in Education. After 47 years of marriage, Oppenheim divorced his first wife in 1977. Oppenheim remarried in 1982 at the age of 79 and had two sons with his second wife. Oppenheim died of natural causes in 1997, at the age of 94. Oppenheim is survived by his second wife, three children, and several nephews and nieces. To the end of his life, he read widely and remained capable of the most perceptive, pithy and amusing commentary on the problems both of old age and of the wider world.
Contributions to Education & Politics
After graduating, Oppenheim was appointed lecturer at the prestigious Edinburgh University, one of the top ranked universities in the world. Much to the surprise of his peers, Oppenheim left the pinnacle of academic institutions and research and took up the post of Professor of Mathematics at the then unheard of Islamic Raffles College in Kuala Lampur, Sultanate of Malaysia. Oppenheim was captured in Singapore by the Japanese during WWII and was held as a POW in the Changi Camp. He suffered considerably in the notorious Changi Camp but amazingly he and other captive scholars managed to establish a rudimentary "POW University". He was elected Dean by his fellow prisoners. Although they were desperately short of paper for assignments, Oppenheim and his colleagues succeeded in persuading an atypically sensitive Japanese officer, Lieutenant Okazaki, to allow the collection of books from Raffles College as a nucleus for a library. These efforts lent purpose to many in despair, even after the venture was disrupted by transfers, including Oppie whose health meantime deteriorated further, when he was transferred to work in construction camps on the infamous Railroad of Death. Thoughts of his family, he once recalled, kept him alive. Oppenheim, years later, held no qualms against the Japanese and encouraged friendship and understanding with the Japanese. Oppenheim held a professorship for 11 years, before moving into administration. Oppenheim played a key role in the merging of Raffles College and founding University of MalayaUniversity of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
. For his role, Oppenheim was appointed founding director. When Sydney Caine
Sydney Caine
Sir Sydney Caine' KCMG was an educator and economist. He was appointed the Director of the LSE between 1957 and 1967. He was an alumnus of the LSE and before his appointment as Director of the school he was a well known economist who had acted as a Consultant for the World Bank for a period of...
, the vice chancellor of University of Malaya left to become the Director of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, he nominated Oppenheim to take his spot as vice-chancellor. In 1957, Oppenheim became Vice Chancellor of UM-Singapore and in 1962 he became the Vice Chancellor of UM-Kuala Lumpur. As vice chancellor of both universities, Oppenheim worked closely with Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
in planning and executing all organizational aspects including obtaining private funding and approval from the Islamic Monarchy to complete the second merger in 1962 of both Universities of Malaya, forming later the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. After retiring from his post in the vice chancellory in 1965, Oppenheim served as visiting professor at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
in Berkshire, United Kingdom. Then from 1968–73, he taught at the former University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
campus and affiliate college, the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
in Africa alongside other notable expats including Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish politician, writer, historian and academic. Although his opinion on the role of Britain in Northern Ireland changed over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, he always acknowledge values of, as he saw, the two irreconcilable traditions...
and Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby
Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby
Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby PC is a British politician and academic. Originally a Labour Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, she was one of the "Gang of Four" rebels who founded the Social Democratic Party in 1981...
. Oppenheim was recruited by Alex Kwapong, the former president of the United Nations University to the University of Benin. The two were often to be observed striding along in the humid early tropical mornings, deep in conversation whilst swinging heavy walking sticks to discourage the curiosity of the local canine population. In Nigeria, Oppenheim was much liked by Nigerians and his wide experience, impeccable manners, and cool advice were generally widely appreciated.
Awards
Oppenheim was appointed Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
by Queen Elizabeth II in 1955. Oppenheim was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
in 1956 and was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the New Year's Honours, 1961. He also received the distinguished alumni medal from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. Oppenheim received an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Hong Kong in 1961, an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1966 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
. Oppenheim was appointed Honorary Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm by Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Al-Haj was the 16th Sultan of Terengganu from 1979 to 1998.-Life:Sultan Mahmud was born in 29 April 1930 in Kuala Terengganu...
. Oppenheim had been a member of the London Mathematical Society
London Mathematical Society
-See also:* American Mathematical Society* Edinburgh Mathematical Society* European Mathematical Society* List of Mathematical Societies* Council for the Mathematical Sciences* BCS-FACS Specialist Group-External links:* * *...
of long-standing, leaving the Society a substantial bequest.