David Crighton
Encyclopedia
David George Crighton FRS
(15 November 1942, Llandudno
, Wales
- 12 April 2000, Cambridge
) was a British
mathematician and physicist.
during World War II
. He didn't become interested in mathematics until his last two years at Watford Grammar School for Boys. He entered St John's College
, Cambridge in 1961 and started lecturing at Woolwich Polytechnic (today University of Greenwich
) in 1964, having completed only his bachelor
's degree.
A few years later he met John Ffowcs Williams
and started to work for him at Imperial College London
, while simultaneously studying for his doctorate
(awarded in 1969) at the same place. In 1974, he was appointed as a Research Fellow
in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge
.
However, he never took up this post, but instead accepted the chair
in Applied Mathematics
at the University of Leeds
, which he held until 1986.
He then returned to Cambridge as professor of Applied Mathematics in succession
to George Batchelor
.
Later he became a well-loved Master of Jesus College
(1997–2000), and was head of the Applied Mathematics department (DAMTP
), where Stephen Hawking
worked, in Cambridge between 1991 and 2000, where he was held in huge regard by the faculty and students.
The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
and the London Mathematical Society
instituted the David Crighton Medal in 2002 in Crighton's honour. The Award is made triennially by the Councils of the Institute and the Society, with the first award in 2003. The silver gilt medal is awarded to a mathematician who is normally resident in the mathematical community represented by the two organisations for services both to mathematics and to the mathematical community.
Away from his mathematical work, Crighton was a devotee of the music of Richard Wagner
, as well as music for the piano
.
formed by two semi-infinite flexible planes.
Over the years he worked broadly in the fields of acoustics, equation theory and quasi-diabatic systems including solitons. This included on the generalised Burgers' equation
and inverse scattering theory.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(15 November 1942, Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
- 12 April 2000, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mathematician and physicist.
Life
Crighton was born in Llandudno. His mother, Violet Grace Garrison, had been sent because of the bombing of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He didn't become interested in mathematics until his last two years at Watford Grammar School for Boys. He entered St John's College
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, Cambridge in 1961 and started lecturing at Woolwich Polytechnic (today University of Greenwich
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
) in 1964, having completed only his bachelor
Bachelor
A bachelor is a man above the age of majority who has never been married . Unlike his female counterpart, the spinster, a bachelor may have had children...
's degree.
A few years later he met John Ffowcs Williams
John Ffowcs Williams
Professor John Eirwyn Ffowcs Williams BSc PhD Hon DSc Soton MA ScD Cantab FREng is Emeritus Rank Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and a former Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge ....
and started to work for him at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, while simultaneously studying for his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
(awarded in 1969) at the same place. In 1974, he was appointed as a Research Fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge
Cambridge University Engineering Department
The Cambridge University Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge is one of the largest departments in the university. The main site is situated at Trumpington Street, to the south of Cambridge city centre. The department is the primary centre for engineering teaching and research...
.
However, he never took up this post, but instead accepted the chair
in Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
at 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...
, which he held until 1986.
He then returned to Cambridge as professor of Applied Mathematics in succession
to George Batchelor
George Batchelor
George Keith Batchelor FRS was an Australian applied mathematician and fluid dynamicist. He was for many years the Professor of Applied Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, and was founding head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics...
.
Later he became a well-loved Master of Jesus College
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
(1997–2000), and was head of the Applied Mathematics department (DAMTP
Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge
The Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge comprises the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics . It is housed in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences site in West Cambridge, alongside the Isaac...
), where Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
worked, in Cambridge between 1991 and 2000, where he was held in huge regard by the faculty and students.
The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is the UK's chartered professional body for mathematicians and one of the UK's learned societies for mathematics ....
and 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:* * *...
instituted the David Crighton Medal in 2002 in Crighton's honour. The Award is made triennially by the Councils of the Institute and the Society, with the first award in 2003. The silver gilt medal is awarded to a mathematician who is normally resident in the mathematical community represented by the two organisations for services both to mathematics and to the mathematical community.
Away from his mathematical work, Crighton was a devotee of the music of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
, as well as music for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Work
In his first paper, Crighton studied the sound wave associated with turbulent flow over a discontinuous surfaceSurface
In mathematics, specifically in topology, a surface is a two-dimensional topological manifold. The most familiar examples are those that arise as the boundaries of solid objects in ordinary three-dimensional Euclidean space R3 — for example, the surface of a ball...
formed by two semi-infinite flexible planes.
Over the years he worked broadly in the fields of acoustics, equation theory and quasi-diabatic systems including solitons. This included on the generalised Burgers' equation
Burgers' equation
Burgers' equation is a fundamental partial differential equation from fluid mechanics. It occurs in various areas of applied mathematics, such as modeling of gas dynamics and traffic flow...
and inverse scattering theory.