John Alexander Third (1865–1948) was a Scottish
mathematician.
Life and work
Third, son of a stonemason, was educated at
Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's College is a co-educational Independent school (UK) for day pupils in Aberdeen, Scotland. The school caters for pupils from Nursery through to S6.
History
Robert Gordon, an Aberdeen merchant, made his fortune in 18th century ...
before entering in 1885 in the
University of Aberdeen where he graduated
D.Sc
Doctor of Science ( la, links=no, Scientiae Doctor), usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D., or D.S., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries, "Doctor of Science" is the degree used f ...
in 1889, after spending some time studying in
Jena, Germany
Jena () is a German city and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, while the city itself has a popu ...
.
[, MacTutor History of Mathematics.] He was appointed rector of
Campbeltown
Campbeltown (; gd, Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain or ) is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Campbeltown became an important centre for Scotch whisky, and a busy fishing ...
Grammar School and, five years later, in 1895, headmaster of
Spier's School.
Third joined the
Edinburgh Mathematical Society in 1897 and he was an enthusiastic member publishing papers in the ''Proceedings''. He was also president of the society in 1902. He was director of education of
Ayrshire
Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...
from 1919 until his retirement in 1927.
After his death, his family made a bequest of £150 to found a prize in the Department of Mathematics of the university of Aberdeen.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Third, John Alexander
1865 births
1948 deaths
19th-century Scottish mathematicians
20th-century Scottish mathematicians
People educated at Robert Gordon's College
Alumni of the University of Aberdeen
Scottish schoolteachers