Lamb, Horace, Sir, 1849-1934

Mathematician. Lamb was the founding Professor of Mathematics, University of Adelaide, Australia 1876-1885 after which he became Professor at Owen's College Manchester 1885-1920. His treatise on the motion of fluids was highly regarded and ran into many editions.

Sir Horace Lamb, BA(1872) MA(1875) mathematician was born 27/11/1849 at Stockport, Cheshire. He was educated at Stockport Grammar School. In 1867, he went to Owens College, Manchester and later decided to study mathematics at Cambridge. He was elected a fellow and lecturer of his college, Trinity College. He was appointed to the first chair of mathematics at the University of Adelaide, 1876. As one of the first four professors, Sir Horace Lamb was prominent in establishing the academic and administrative structure of the University. His public lectures in the evenings proved very popular. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1884. In 1885, he was granted leave to visit England, but did not return to Adelaide. He became professor of mathematics at Owens College, a post he held until he retired in 1920. His last years were spent at Cambridge, where he died in 1934. He was knighted in 1931. Many of his research papers and several of his books were published. His Treatise on the motion of fluids has run into many editions. One of the lecture theatres in the new library complex at the University of Adelaide is named The Horace Lamb Lecture Theatre. (Cf. Aust. Dic. of Biog., v.5).