Johan Antony Barrau began his adult life in the Royal Netherlands Navy, serving as an officer between 1891 and 1898 before transitioning into a career in mathematics. His professional trajectory eventually shifted from military service to the academic lecture halls of the Netherlands, where he specialized in the fields of synthetic, analytical, and descriptive differential geometry.
Military Service and Academic Training
Before his transition into academia, Barrau trained at the Royal Netherlands Naval College in Willemsoord. His military career involved service with the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Netherlands Marine Corps. His contributions during this period were recognized with the Expedition Cross, awarded with the Atjeh clasp for his service in 1873-1896 and again for 1896-1900. After leaving the military, he taught at a Hogere Burgerschool in Dordrecht and later in Amsterdam. He pursued advanced studies at the University of Amsterdam, earning his PhD in 1907 under the supervision of Diederik Korteweg.
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Barrau held several key university positions throughout his career in the Netherlands. He served as a mathematics professor at the Delft University of Technology from 1909 to 1913. Subsequently, he accepted a professorship at the University of Groningen, where he taught from 1913 until 1928. His final academic tenure began in 1928 at Utrecht University, where he remained until his retirement at age 70 in 1943.
Mathematical Contributions and Recognition
His scholarly output included a textbook focused on analytical geometry and numerous articles published across both national and international academic journals. Beyond his teaching and writing, he participated as a speaker at professional gatherings, specifically in Strasbourg in 1920 and Toronto in 1924. In recognition of his professional service and contributions to his field, he was named a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
Fast facts
- Born: 1873, Oisterwijk
- Died: 1953, Utrecht
- Primary Field: Geometry
- PhD Advisor: Diederik Korteweg
- Military Service: 1891-1898
- Distinction: Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Major Employer: Utrecht University
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Barrau teach?
He specialized in synthetic, analytical, and descriptive differential geometry.
Where did he work as a professor?
He held positions at the Delft University of Technology, the University of Groningen, and Utrecht University.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Held posts at Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology and University of Groningen
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