David Rees (mathematician)

For other persons named David/Dai Rees, see David/Dai Rees
David Rees
Born 28 May 1918 (1918-05-28) (age 93)
Alma mater University of Cambridge
Doctoral students Michael P. Drazin
O.A.S Karamzadeh
Inder Bir Passi
Known for Commutative algebra
Rees factor semigroup
Rees matrix semigroup[1]
Rees's theorem[1]

David Rees ScD Cantab, FIMA, FRS (Mathematics) (born 28 May 1918) is an emeritus professor of pure mathematics at the University of Exeter, having been head of the Mathematics / Mathematical Sciences Department at Exeter for many years.

During the Second World War, Rees was active on Enigma research in Hut 6 at Bletchley Park.

He initially worked on semigroup theory, and Rees factor semigroup is named after him. He also gave a characterization of completely simple and completely 0-simple semigroups, nowadays known as Rees's theorem. The matrix-based semigroups used in this characterization are called Rees matrix semigroups.[1][2]

At the behest of Douglas Northcott he switched his research focus to commutative algebra.[3] In 1954, in a joint paper with Northcott, Rees introduced the Northcott-Rees theory of reductions and integral closures which has subsequently been influential in commutative algebra.[4]

In 1993, he was awarded the Pólya Prize by the London Mathematical Society.

In August 1998, a conference on Commutative Algebra was held at Exeter in honour of David Rees' 80th Year.

He is an Honorary Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge[5]

Family

In 1952,[6] he married Dr Joan S. Cushen, who, as Dr Joan Rees, became a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at Exeter, with several children, including:

  1. Professor (Susan) Mary Rees FRS, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Liverpool, b. 1953[7][8][9]
  2. Rebecca Rees, b. 1955[10]
  3. Professor Sarah E. Rees, Professor of Pure Mathematics at Newcastle University, b. 1957[11][12]
  4. Deborah Rees, b. 1960[13]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c http://eom.springer.de/R/r080470.htm
  2. ^ Attila Nagy (2001). Special classes of semigroups. Springer. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9780792368908. http://books.google.com/books?id=BmyCMoEU1n4C&pg=PA14. 
  3. ^ Biographical memoirs of fellows of the Royal Society: Volume 53
  4. ^ Professor Douglas Northcott - Obituaries, News - The Independent
  5. ^ http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/dow_server/mfs/honorary_fellows/D._Rees.html
  6. ^ GRO Register of Marriages: JUN 1952 4a 395 CAMBRIDGE - David Rees = Joan S. Cushen
  7. ^ GRO Register of Births: SEP 1953 4a 294 CAMBRIDGE - Susan M. Rees, mmn = Cushen
  8. ^ Academics - Times Online
  9. ^ Professor Mary Rees FRS
  10. ^ GRO Register of Births: DEC 1955 4a 222 CAMBRIDGE - Rebecca Rees, mmn = Cushen
  11. ^ GRO Register of Births: DEC 1957 4a 338 CAMBRIDGE - Sarah E. Rees, mmn = Cushen
  12. ^ Prof. Sarah Rees
  13. ^ GRO Register of Births: JUN 1960 7a 442 EXETER - Deborah Rees, mmn = Cushen

External links