Richard Davis Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1922-02-17)February 17, 1922 |
| Died | March 4, 2008(2008-03-04) (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota,University of Texas |
| Known for | Topology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Pennsylvania,Institute for Advanced Study,Louisiana State University |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Lee Moore |
Richard Davis Anderson Sr. (February 17, 1922 – March 4, 2008) was an American mathematician known internationally for his work in infinite-dimensionaltopology. Much of his early work focused on proofs surroundingHilbert space andHilbert cubes.
Richard Anderson and his twin brother, John, were born February 17, 1922, inHamden, Connecticut. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from theUniversity of Minnesota in 1941, after just two years of study. He went on to graduate school at theUniversity of Texas at Austin, where he studied underR. L. Moore.[1] His graduate work was interrupted byWorld War II. Two days after theJapanese attack onPearl Harbor, he enlisted in theUnited States Navy. During his term in the U. S. Navy, he served on theUSSRocky Mount. After returning from the war, he finished his doctoral work at theUniversity of Texas and went on to teach mathematics at theUniversity of Pennsylvania, where he went through the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor (from 1951 to 1956). During this time he also spent two years (the academic years 1951–1952 and 1955–1956) at theInstitute for Advanced Study inPrinceton, New Jersey. He then accepted a post atLouisiana State University, where he became the university's first Boyd Professor of mathematics. Boyd Professor is Louisiana State University's highest professor rank.[2][3]
