| Fritz J. Ursell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1923 Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Fields | Applied mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Manchester, Cambridge University |
| Alma mater | Cambridge University |
| Doctoral students | J. N. Newman, E. O. Tuck, David Evans |
| Known for | Ursell number |
| Notable awards | Georg Weinblum Lectureship, 1985-1986 |
Fritz Joseph Ursell FRS (born 1923, Düsseldorf) is a British mathematician noted for his contributions to fluid mechanics, especially in the area of wave-structure interactions.[1] He held the Beyer Chair of Applied Mathematics at the University of Manchester from 1961–1990,[2] was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972 and retired in 1990. He is currently emeritus professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Manchester.
Ursell came to England as a refugee in 1937 from Germany. From 1941 to 1943 he studied at Cambridge University, graduating with a bachelor degree in mathematics. At the end of 1943 he joined the Admiralty (British Navy Department) as a part of a team—headed by George Deacon—whose task is to formulate rules for forecasting waves for the allied landings in Japan. Their findings have become the basis of modern wave-forecasting. Ursell stayed in the Admiralty until 1947. In 1947 he was appointed to a post-doctoral fellowship in applied mathematics at Manchester University without a doctorate. In 1950 he returned to Cambridge as a lecturer. There he met G. I. Taylor. In 1957 he spent a year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, having been invited by Arthur Ippen. In 1961 Ursell moved back to Manchester.
Ursell has an Erdős number of 3.
| Preceded by James Lighthill |
Beyer Chair of Applied Mathematics at University of Manchester 1961 – 1990 |
Succeeded by Philip Hall |