The publication of Advanced Calculus in 1955 established a foundational framework for mathematics students across a generation. Angus Ellis Taylor, an American mathematician whose career spanned the twentieth century, focused his academic research on mathematical analysis, analytic functions, and spectral theory. His work integrated rigorous theoretical inquiry with an extensive commitment to administrative leadership within the University of California system.
Academic Formation and Early Research
Born in 1911 in Craig, Taylor pursued his undergraduate education at Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude in 1933. He subsequently attended the California Institute of Technology, completing his PhD in 1936. Working under the supervision of Aristotle Michal, Taylor focused his dissertation research on analytic functions, a field that would remain central to his scholarly output throughout his career.
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Taylor joined the University of California, Los Angeles, where he advanced to the rank of full professor by 1944. His role within the institution expanded beyond teaching and research as he chaired the mathematics department from 1958 to 1964. He later transitioned into broader administrative responsibilities, eventually serving as provost and chancellor at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Mathematical Publications
The bibliography of Taylor includes several influential texts that bridged theoretical analysis and instructional pedagogy. In collaboration with G. E. F. Sherwood, he published Calculus in 1942, with a third edition appearing in 1954. His later work, Introduction to functional analysis, first released in 1958 and revised with David C. Lay in 1980, served as a primary resource for advanced study. Additional contributions included General theory of functions and integration, first published by Blaisdell in 1965, and a posthumously referenced memoir titled Speaking freely: a scholar's memoir of experience in the University of California, 1938-1967.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Craig
- Died: 1999, Berkeley
- Undergraduate Degree: Harvard University, 1933
- Doctoral Degree: California Institute of Technology, 1936
- PhD Advisor: Aristotle Michal
- Primary Fields: Mathematical analysis, analytic function, spectral theory
- Academic Employers: UCLA, UC Santa Cruz
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Taylor's textbook Advanced Calculus?
First published in 1955, the text became a standard curriculum resource for students of mathematics for several decades.
Did Taylor hold positions outside of mathematics departments?
Yes, his administrative career within the University of California system led him to the roles of provost and chancellor at UC Santa Cruz.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Santa Cruz
- Fields: spectral theory, mathematics and analytic function
