A doctorate obtained from the University of Königsberg in 1892 marked the transition of Arthur Hirsch from student to professional mathematician. His academic career spanned five decades, beginning with rigorous training under David Hilbert and Adolf Hurwitz before he relocated to Switzerland to secure a long-standing position within the faculty at ETH Zurich.
Academic Formation
Born in 1866 in Königsberg, Hirsch completed his foundational schooling in 1882. He pursued advanced studies in physics and mathematics at the universities of Berlin and Königsberg. During this period, he engaged with prominent mathematicians, including David Hilbert and Adolf Hurwitz, who influenced his early research trajectory. In 1892, he successfully defended a doctoral thesis focused on linear differential equations.
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In 1893, Hirsch secured a position as an assistant professor at the Polytechnikum of Zurich. His tenure at the institution saw a steady rise through the ranks, transitioning to a titular professorship in 1897. By 1903, he achieved the status of ordinary professor, a role he maintained until his retirement in 1936. Throughout his decades in Switzerland, he remained active in the broader scientific community, joining the Swiss Mathematical Society upon its establishment in 1910.
Research Contributions
Hirsch concentrated his intellectual output on differential equations and hypergeometric functions. His research findings were disseminated primarily through Mathematische Annalen, where he authored seven distinct papers. These publications addressed specific problems in analysis that defined his scholarly reputation until his death in Zurich in 1948.
Fast facts
- Born: 1866, Königsberg
- Died: 1948, Zurich
- Citizenship: Germany
- University of Königsberg attendance: 1882-1892
- ETH Zurich faculty: 1893-1936
- Primary research: Differential equations, Hypergeometric functions
- Professional affiliations: Swiss Mathematical Society
Questions readers ask
Where did Arthur Hirsch complete his higher education?
He studied at the universities of Berlin and Königsberg, receiving his doctorate from the latter in 1892.
Which institution employed him for most of his career?
He served on the faculty of ETH Zurich from 1893 until his retirement in 1936.
Achievements
- Held posts at ETH Zurich
