Person

Wilson, William Parkinson (1826 - 1874)

Born
1 February 1826
Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England
Died
11 December 1874
Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Mathematician

Summary

William Wilson was Professor of Mathematics at the University of Melbourne, one of the University's four founding professors. Besides mathematics and natural philosophy, Wilson taught mechanics, meteorology, optics, and astronomy. He was instrumental in persuading the Council to offer Australia's first university engineering course, with students enrolling from 1861. His interest in astronomy led to his being a leading advocate for the establishment of the Melbourne Observatory and serving on its Board of Visitors. In 1871 Wilson led an expedition to Cape Sidmouth, Queensland, to observe a solar eclipse and in 1874 set up his own observatory at Mornington, Victoria. For his contributions to the Royal Society of Victoria (and its predecessor the Philosophical Institute) Wilson was made a Life Member.

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Details

Chronology

1847
Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge
1847 - 1857
Career position - Senior Wrangler, later Fellow, St John's College, Cambridge
1849 - 1853
Career position - Founding Professor of Mathematics, Queen's College, Belfast, Ireland
1850
Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Cambridge
1854 - 1874
Career position - Founding Professor of Mathematics, University of Melbourne
1855
Life event - Arrived in Melbourne
1856
Career position - Vice-President, Philosophical Institute of Victoria
1857 - 1859
Award - Life Member, Philosophical Institute of Victoria
1859 - 1874
Award - Life Member, Royal Society of Victoria

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Cohen, Graeme, 'The appointment of the first four professors of mathematics in the University of Melbourne', Gazette of the Australian Mathematical Society, 33 (1) (2006), 14-21. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023

EOAS ID: biogs/P000188b.htm

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