Anthony Perry Morse (1911–1984) was an American mathematician who worked in both analysis, especially measure theory, and in the foundations of mathematics. He is best known as the co-creator, together with John L. Kelley, of Morse–Kelley set theory. This theory first appeared in print in General Topology.[1] Morse's own version appeared later in A Theory of Sets.[2][3]
He is also known for his work on the Morse–Sard theorem.
He received his PhD in 1937 at Brown University. After two years at the Institute for Advanced Study he joined the mathematics faculty at Berkeley where except for two interruptions he worked for the rest of his life on mathematics. In the first of these, from 1943 until the end of World War II, he worked on ballistics at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. In 1950 his life was interrupted by the McCarthy Era loyalty oath controversy. He was one of the 29 "non-signers".[4]
His work is characterized by an unusual degree of formality.
His students include Herbert Federer and Woody Bledsoe.