Jonathan Richard Partington entered the world in Norwich in 1955. Now an Emeritus Professor of pure mathematics at the University of Leeds, he has focused his career on the intersections of operator theory, control theory, and complex analysis, while maintaining an active engagement with the history and development of early British text-based computing systems.
Academic Foundation
Before his tenure at Leeds, Partington attended Gresham's School in Holt. He subsequently moved to Trinity College, Cambridge, to pursue advanced studies. Under the supervision of Béla Bollobás, he completed his doctoral research. His thesis, titled Numerical ranges and the Geometry of Banach Spaces, established his early technical focus.
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Partington has authored several academic texts detailing his research in mathematics. Notable publications include An Introduction to Hankel Operators, released in 1989, and the 1997 work Interpolation, identification, and sampling. His 2004 book, Linear Operators and Linear Systems, was followed by a 2011 collaboration with Isabelle Chalendar titled Modern Approaches to the Invariant-Subspace Problem. Beyond his writing, he served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the London Mathematical Society alongside his Leeds colleague John Truss.
Computing and Extra-Mathematical Interests
During his time at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Partington contributed to the development of early text-based computer games. Working on the Phoenix computer system, he wrote or co-wrote titles such as Acheton, Hamil, Murdac, Avon, Fyleet, Crobe, Sangraal, and SpySnatcher. These programs remain archived today. Additionally, he founded the March March march, an annual walking event that commences in the town of March, Cambridgeshire.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 February 1955, Norwich
- Education: Gresham's School, Trinity College
- Current Position: Emeritus Professor of pure mathematics, University of Leeds
- Primary Research Fields: Operator theory, complex analysis, control theory
- Notable Software Credits: Acheton, Hamil, Murdac, Avon, Fyleet, Crobe, Sangraal, SpySnatcher
- Extra-Mathematical Activities: Founder of the March March march
Questions readers ask
What is Jonathan Partington's academic background?
He studied at Gresham's School and completed his PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge, supervised by Béla Bollobás.
Did Partington write computer games?
Yes, he authored or co-authored several early British text-based games including Acheton, Murdac, and SpySnatcher on the Phoenix system.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Leeds
- Fields: mathematics
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