Sir John Currie Gunn was born on the 13th of September, 1916, in Glasgow. He began his education at the Glasgow Academy before going on to study Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an M.A in 1937. He was also awarded the Logan Prize in the same year for distinction in the examinations for the degree of M.A.
After graduating from Glasgow Gunn went on to study at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he conducted research in theoretical physics. His research subsequently led him to the development of counter and firing systems for mines, which was used during World War II. When he graduated from St. John’s, Gunn was awarded the Mayhew Prize for the greatest merit in applied mathematics.
At the end of the war, Gunn became a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Manchester University. In 1946, Gunn was then a Lecturer at the University College in London, where he began research in nuclear and particle physics. In 1949, he was appointed to the Cargill Chair in Applied Physics at the University of Glasgow, which Professor Philip Dee wished to lead research in theoretical physics as he developed a centre of expertise in nuclear and particle physics.. This Chair was founded in 1920 and endowed by the gift of Sir John Traill Cargill (1867-1956) of the Burmah Oil Co. The name was changed to Natural Philosophy in 1945. Gunn and Dee were able to obtain funding in order to build a linear electron accelerator for their nuclear physics research. Gunn maintained the Cargill Chair at Glasgow until 1982.
Gunn was also involved in other aspects of the University - he was one of the first Vice- Principals at Glasgow from 1972-1977, and was later appointed the Dean of Faculties from 1988-1992. He was also a member of the University Grants Committee from 1973-1981. As well as this, Gunn was a member of the Science Research Council from 1968-1972, and acted as Chairman between 1970 and 1972. Gunn was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1959, was appointed CBE in 1976, and was knighted in 1982. Gunn was awarded a DSc in 2001. Sir John Gunn passed away in July 2002.
From the guide to the Papers of Sir John Currie Gunn, 1916-2002, Cargill Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Glasgow, Scotland, c 1890s-1991, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
