Brilliant N.Z. Mathematician

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 1

Brilliant N.Z. Mathematician

One of New Zealand’s most famous scholars and a world authority on pure mathematics, Alexander Craig Aitken, died in Edinburgh on Saturday. He was 72.

The son of a Dunedin groeer, Professor Aitken occupied the coveted chair of mathematics at Edinburgh University. He retired two years ago.

His predecessor in the chair. Professor E. T. Whittaker, once described him as the greatest algebraist of the century. In a game with his own children he was once asked to multiply mentally 987,654,321 by 123,456,789. He gave the answer of 18 figures in hardly more than half a minute. He knew by memory, the non-terminating decimal' of “Pi” (22 over 7) to 1000 places. His feat of memory which brought him world renown as a soldier during the First World War was when he supplied to his senior officer the Christian names and surnames, regimental numbers, next of kin and their addresses in New Zealand of 30 members of his platoon who became casualties. Professor Aitken started school in 1901 and left the primary school with a scholarship to Otago Boys’ High School. He won a junior university scholarship in 1911 and the next year gained first place in yhe university scholarship

examinations with an exceptional lead.

He returned to the university after the war and obtained a master of arts degree in 1919 but "refused to be nominated for a Rhodes scholarship on the grounds that the war had too long delayed the starting of his career.

In 1920 he was appointed master at Otago Boys’ High School.

He was awarded a post graduate scholarship which took him to Edinburgh University. After graduating as doctor of science he joined the staff. Professor Aitken is survived by his wife, son and a daughter.