The Regius Professorship of Mathematics is the name given to three chairs in mathematics at British universities, one at the University of St Andrews, founded by Charles II in 1668, the second one at the University of Warwick, founded in 2013 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II and the third one at the University of Oxford, founded in 2016.
University of St Andrews (1668)
From 1997 to 2015 there was no Regius Professor of Mathematics. In April 2013 the post was advertised, and in 2015 Igor Rivin was appointed. He was succeeded by Kenneth Falconer in 2017.
List of Regius Professors of Mathematics
The following list may be incomplete.
1668–1674 James Gregory 1674–1688 William SandersJ. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (1996) Mathematics in St Andrews to 1700; on the Website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015. 1689–1690 James Fenton 1690–1707 vacant 1707–1739 Charles Gregory 1739–1765 David GregoryJ. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2010) Nicolas Vilant, on the website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015. 1765–1807 Nicolas Vilant 1807–1809 vacantJ. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2006) Robert Haldane; MacTutor History of Mathematics; read 27. November 2015. 1809–1820 Robert Haldane 1820–1858 Thomas DuncanAlex D. D. Craik (2008) Mr Hopkins' Men: Cambridge Reform and British Mathematics in the 19th Century; Springer. 1857–1858 John Couch AdamsJ. J. O'Connor and E. F. Robertson (2005) John Couch Adams on the website of the University of St Andrews; read 27. November 2015. 1859–1877 William L F Fischer 1877–1879 George Chrystal 1879–1921 Peter Redford Scott Lang 1921–1950 Herbert Westren Turnbull 1950–1969 Edward Thomas Copson 1970–1997 John Mackintosh Howie 1997–2015 vacant 2015–2017 Igor Rivin 2017–present Kenneth Falconer
University of Warwick (2013)
The creation of the post of the Regius Professor of Mathematics was announced in January 2013, in March 2014 Martin Hairer was appointed to the position. Tim Austin was appointed in July 2023, following Hairer's move to Imperial College, London in 2017.
University of Oxford (2016)
The creation of the post of the Regius Professor of Mathematics was announced in June 2016 and Andrew Wiles was appointed as the first holder of the chair in May 2018.University of Oxford, Sir Andrew Wiles appointed first Regius Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, 31 May 2018 In August 2020, it was confirmed that the Regius Professorship in Mathematics at the University of Oxford would be permanently associated with Merton College.
In July 2026, it was announced that the King had approved the appointment of James Maynard as the new Regius Professor of Mathematics, to succeed Wiles on 1 October 2026.
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