Andrew Munro, M.A., (6 July 1869 – 1 July 1935) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

lecturer in mathematics, Vice President, Bursar, Steward and Senior Fellow of

Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the oldest colleges of the university, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. The college spans the River Cam, colloquially referred to as the "light s ...

for 45 years from 1893 to 1935. The Munro scholarships and studentships at Queens' College, Cambridge are named in his honour.

Early life

Andrew Munro was born 6 July 1869, in Rosskeen,

Ross and Cromarty Ross and Cromarty ( gd, Ros agus Cromba), sometimes referred to as Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use, the latt ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, the son of Andrew Munro and Margaret Small of

Invergordon Invergordon (; gd, Inbhir Ghòrdain or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland (council area), Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen. History The town built up around the harbour which was establish ...

in Ross and Cromarty. His father was a banker, mill owner and farmer, who also served as

Chief Magistrate Chief magistrate is a public official, executive or judicial, whose office is the highest in its class. Historically, the two different meanings of magistrate have often overlapped and refer to, as the case may be, to a major political and admini ...

for

and

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

for Ross and Cromarty. The Munros were members of the

Clan Munro Clan Munro (; gd, Clann an Rothaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and ...

. His mother was the daughter of John Small (1797–1847), under Librarian of the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and the sister of John Small (1828–1886), who succeeded his father as under Librarian and later was appointed Librarian. Munro's mother and family were members of the Smalls of

Dirnanean Dirnanean House is part of a private, traditional Highland estate located near Enochdhu in Moulin parish, Blairgowrie and Rattray, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, 10 miles ENE of Pitlochry. The Dirnanean estate is situated adjacent to ...

, Perthshire, Scotland.

Academics

Munro initially attended

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

, Scotland, later transferring to Cambridge. He won a foundation scholarship to

in 1890, and two years later was designated as the fourth Wrangler. In 1892, Munro received his Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a

Masters of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

degree in 1896. In 1893, he was elected a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

at Queens' College, Cambridge. For the next 20 years he served as a lecturer, director of studies, and supervisor in mathematics at the college. In 1913, Munro became

Bursar A bursar (derived from "bursa", Latin for '' purse'') is a professional administrator in a school or university often with a predominantly financial role. In the United States, bursars usually hold office only at the level of higher education (f ...

of Queens' College, Cambridge. In this role, Munro advised the college to dispose of most of its farmland after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and invest in government stocks, which significantly increased the college's endowments.

Legacy

Andrew Munro died on 1 July 1935 at Dormy House Hotel in

Sheringham Sheringham (; population 7,367) is an English seaside town within the county of Norfolk, United Kingdom.Ordnance Survey (2002). ''OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East''. . The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban Distr ...

, Norfolk, England. He was buried in St. Giles Cemetery in Cambridge, now referred to as Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground, on 4 July 1935. A portion of Munro's estate, upwards of £26,000, was left to Queens' College, Cambridge to fund scholarships in mathematics and

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its 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 which r ...

. These scholarships and studentships are named in Munro's honour. The Munro Room at Queens' College, Cambridge which faces both Old Court and Walnut Tree Court, is named for Munro. A portrait of Munro, painted by

Arthur Trevor Haddon Arthur Trevor Haddon (22 August 1864 – 13 December 1941), also known as Trevor Haddon, was a British painter and illustrator. Life and career Arthur Trevor Haddon was born on 22 August 1864 in London. He won a scholarship to the prestigious S ...

, appropriately hangs in the room.

References

External links

*
Andrew Munro, Queens' College Portrait
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munro, Andrew (mathematician) 1869 births 1935 deaths Scottish mathematicians Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge Fellows of Queens' College, Cambridge