Alexander (Alec) Yule Fraser (1857–1890) was a Scottish
mathematician
A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems.
Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, mathematical structure, structure, space, Mathematica ...
, one of the founders of the
Edinburgh Mathematical Society
The Edinburgh Mathematical Society is a mathematical society for academics in Scotland.
History
The Society was founded in 1883 by a group of Edinburgh school teachers and academics, on the initiative of Alexander Yule Fraser FRSE and Andrew Jef ...
.
Life and work
Fraser studied at the
University of Aberdeen
, mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
, established =
, type = Public research universityAncient university
, endowment = £58.4 million (2021)
, budget ...
where he graduated in 1881. After that, he was appointed Mathematical Master at
George Watson's College
George Watson's College is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871, and was merge ...
(
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
). In 1889 he was appointed Headmaster at
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School was, for most of its existence, a local authority, selective secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland, charging nominal fees for tuition.
It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death, i ...
(
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...
) but he remained only two months because a severe
pleurisy
Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity ( pleurae). This can result in a sharp chest pain while breathing. Occasionally the pain may be a constant dull ache. Other s ...
forced him to leave Scotland going to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
in search of a better climate. Back to Scotland, his health deteriorated rapidly and died in Glasgow thirty three years old.
Alec married the singer
Marjory Kennedy-Fraser
Marjory Kennedy-Fraser (1 October 1857 – 22 November 1930) was a Scottish singer, composer and music teacher and supporter of women's suffrage and pacifism. According to Ray Perman, Kennedy-Fraser "made a career of collecting Gaelic songs in ...
in 1887 and they had a couple, David (1888–1962) and Helen Patuffa (1889–1967).
David Kennedy Fraser became a psychologist, educator and amateur mathematician. Patuffa was a singer and musician, as her mother.
Fraser is mainly remembered for being one of the founding fathers of the
Edinburgh Mathematical Society
The Edinburgh Mathematical Society is a mathematical society for academics in Scotland.
History
The Society was founded in 1883 by a group of Edinburgh school teachers and academics, on the initiative of Alexander Yule Fraser FRSE and Andrew Jef ...
.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Alexander Yule
19th-century Scottish mathematicians
1857 births
1890 deaths
Alumni of the University of Aberdeen