Max Mason on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Charles Max Mason (26 October 1877–22 March 1961), better known as Max Mason, was an American mathematician. He served the 4th president of the
Max Mason papers, 1898-1961, Niels Bohr Library & ArchivesMax Mason papers, 1750-1815, Royal Observatory EdinburghCharles Mason papers, 1750-1815, American Philosophical Society
1877 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American mathematicians American mathematical analysts American mathematics educators Medal for Merit recipients Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences People from Madison, Wisconsin Presidents of the Rockefeller Foundation Presidents of the University of Chicago University of Chicago faculty University of WisconsinMadison alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty Yale University faculty {{US-mathematician-stub
Charles Max Mason (26 October 1877–22 March 1961), better known as Max Mason, was an American mathematician. He served the 4th president of the University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
from 1925 to 1928 and as the third president of the Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...
from 1929 to 1936.
Mason's mathematical research interests included differential equations, the calculus of variations
The calculus of variations (or variational calculus) is a field of mathematical analysis that uses variations, which are small changes in Function (mathematics), functions
and functional (mathematics), functionals, to find maxima and minima of f ...
, and electromagnetic theory.
Education
*B.Litt., 1898,University of Wisconsin-Madison
A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...
*Ph.D., Mathematics, University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...
, 1903.
**Dissertation: "Randwertaufgaben bei gewöhnlichen Differentialgleichungen" (Boundary value
In the study of differential equations, a boundary-value problem is a differential equation subjected to constraints called boundary conditions. A solution to a boundary value problem is a solution to the differential equation which also satisfi ...
functions with ordinary differential equations)
**Advisor: Hilbert
David Hilbert (; ; 23 January 1862 – 14 February 1943) was a German mathematician and philosophy of mathematics, philosopher of mathematics and one of the most influential mathematicians of his time.
Hilbert discovered and developed a broad ...
Career
*Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
(MIT), 1903–1904, Instructor of Mathematics.
* Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
, 1904–1908, Assistant Professor of Mathematics.
* University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...
, 1908–1909, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Associate Professor of Mathematics.
* University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1909–1925, Professor of Physics
Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...
.
** National Research Council, 1917–1919, Submarine Committee. (Invented a submarine
A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...
detection device, which was the basis for sonar
Sonar (sound navigation and ranging or sonic navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation (usually underwater, as in submarine navigation) to navigate, measure distances ( ranging), communicate with or detect objects o ...
detectors used in World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.)
* University of Chicago, 1925–1928, President.
* Rockefeller Foundation, 1928–1929, Director, Natural Sciences Division.
* Rockefeller Foundation, 1929–1936, President.
* Palomar Observatory
The Palomar Observatory is an astronomical research observatory in the Palomar Mountains of San Diego County, California, United States. It is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Research time at the observat ...
(California), 1936–1949, Chairman of the team directing the construction of the observatory.
On 2 May 1945, he appeared on Edgar Bergen
Edgar John Bergen (né Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, vaudevillian and radio performer. He was best known for his characters Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Bergen ...
's radio show to chat about the new observatory and trade jokes with Charlie McCarthy. In 1948, he, along with Lee A. DuBridge, William A. Fowler, Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling ( ; February 28, 1901August 19, 1994) was an American chemist and peace activist. He published more than 1,200 papers and books, of which about 850 dealt with scientific topics. ''New Scientist'' called him one of the 20 gre ...
, and Bruce H. Sage, was awarded the Medal for Merit
The Medal for Merit was the highest civilian decoration of the United States in the gift of the president. Created during World War II, it was awarded by the president of the United States to civilians who "distinguished themselves by exceptiona ...
by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...
.
Notes and references
External links
* *Archival collections
* *Max Mason papers, 1898-1961, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
1877 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American mathematicians American mathematical analysts American mathematics educators Medal for Merit recipients Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences People from Madison, Wisconsin Presidents of the Rockefeller Foundation Presidents of the University of Chicago University of Chicago faculty University of WisconsinMadison alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty Yale University faculty {{US-mathematician-stub