Archibald Read Richardson, 1881-1954

Abstract

Archibald Read Richardson was born on 21 August 1881 of English parents: he was the eldest of five children and was dearly loved by the whole family. The greater part of his life before he went to Swansea in 1920 was spent in London where he began his academic career in 1903 as an engineering student at the Royal College of Science. As a volunteer (probably under age) he had already served in the South African war, on one occasion during which members of his troop, although unable to swim, had to get their horses over the flooded Tugela river at midnight. His college course, 1903- 1907, was one of sustained distinction, and he developed an interest in pure mathematics which attracted the attention of his teachers, particularly of Professor L. N. G. Filon, who wished to appoint him forthwith to his staff as an assistant in mathematics. But Richardson, it would appear, was not yet a member of the University of London; and to become a lecturer required his passing the next matriculation examination: this done he was duly appointed. Three years later he obtained First Class Honours in the external examination. From 1912 to 1914 he was assistant professor in mathematics at the Imperial College, which had been formed by the amalgamation of the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines, and the City and Guilds Engineering College. In August 1914 he left for war service and returned in April 1919. In August 1920 he became Professor of Aeronautical Science at the Cadet College, Cranwell; and shortly afterwards, in October 1920, he was appointed to the Chair of Mathematics in the University College of Swansea, the newly created constituent college of the University of Wales. This post he held for twenty years until he was compelled to resign in 1940 on account of increasing ill health, when he retired to Cape Town, but continued to prosecute research until shortly before his death in 1954. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1946.