Hyman Levy
Encyclopedia
Hyman Levy was a Scottish philosopher, mathematician and political activist.
The son of Minna Cohen and Marcus Levy, a Jewish art dealer in Edinburgh
, Hyman was the third oldest of eight children. He went to school at George Heriot's School
, and was the School Dux. Thanks to scholarships, he was able to go to Germany to study at the University of Göttingen. But because of World War I
, Levy had to return to the United Kingdom. Researching aeronautics
at the National Physical Laboratory, Levy published papers and books on mathematical applications pertaining to aeronautics. He also wrote about differential equations and probability. After leaving the laboratory, he became a professor of mathematics at the Royal College of Science of Imperial College London
where he later served as the head of the department. At Imperial, he is believed to have greatly improved the department of mathematics, and in recognition to his contribution, he later became the dean of the Royal College of Science.
In 1918, he married Marion Aitken Fraser, a Christian woman, despite the disapproval of his family. They had three children. Levy was in the Labour Party
from 1920 to 1931, and then in 1931 he joined the British Communist Party. Despite his theoretical allegiance to the principles of communism, Levy became disappointed by the way the Russian communists treated Jews, and published on the topic, leading to his expulsion from the party in 1958.
Following Levy's paper "On Goldbach's Conjecture" from 1963, Lemoine's conjecture is incorrectly referred to by some as "Levy's conjecture."
The son of Minna Cohen and Marcus Levy, a Jewish art dealer in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Hyman was the third oldest of eight children. He went to school at George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. It was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital, by bequest of the royal goldsmith George...
, and was the School Dux. Thanks to scholarships, he was able to go to Germany to study at the University of Göttingen. But because of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Levy had to return to the United Kingdom. Researching aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
at the National Physical Laboratory, Levy published papers and books on mathematical applications pertaining to aeronautics. He also wrote about differential equations and probability. After leaving the laboratory, he became a professor of mathematics at the Royal College of Science of 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...
where he later served as the head of the department. At Imperial, he is believed to have greatly improved the department of mathematics, and in recognition to his contribution, he later became the dean of the Royal College of Science.
In 1918, he married Marion Aitken Fraser, a Christian woman, despite the disapproval of his family. They had three children. Levy was in the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
from 1920 to 1931, and then in 1931 he joined the British Communist Party. Despite his theoretical allegiance to the principles of communism, Levy became disappointed by the way the Russian communists treated Jews, and published on the topic, leading to his expulsion from the party in 1958.
Following Levy's paper "On Goldbach's Conjecture" from 1963, Lemoine's conjecture is incorrectly referred to by some as "Levy's conjecture."
Further reading
- G A Barnard, Hyman Levy, Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
, 1971-1980 (Oxford-New York, 1986), 503-504.