John Crank
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John Crank | |
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| Born | 6 February 1916 |
| Died | 3 October 2006(aged 90) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Manchester University |
| Known for | Crank–Nicolson method |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | Brunel University |
| Doctoral advisor | William Lawrence Bragg |
John Crank(6 February 1916 – 3 October 2006) was amathematical physicist,best known for his work on the numerical solution ofpartial differential equations.
Crank was born inHindleyinLancashire,England.His father was a carpenter's pattern-maker. Crank studied atManchester Universityfrom 1934 to 1938, where he was awarded a BSc and MSc as a student ofLawrence BraggandDouglas Hartree.In 1953, Manchester University awarded him a DSc.
He worked onballisticsduring theSecond World War,and was then a mathematical physicist at Courtaulds Fundamental Research Laboratory from 1945 to 1957. In 1957, he was appointed as the first Head of Department of Mathematics atBrunel Collegein Acton. He served two terms of office as vice-principal of Brunel before his retirement in 1981, when he was granted the title of professor emeritus.
Crank's main work was on the numerical solution ofpartial differential equationsand, in particular, the solution of heat-conduction problems. He is best known for his work withPhyllis Nicolsonon theheat equation,which resulted in theCrank–Nicolson method.
He was a keen gardener and established the John Crank Garden as a retirement gift to Brunel University. He was married to his wife, Joan, who died in 2005, for 63 years. They were survived by their two children.
References
[edit]- O'Connor, John J.;Robertson, Edmund F.,"John Crank",MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive,University of St Andrews
- Daily Telegraph obituary
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