Person: Coutts, William Barron

William Coutts graduated from Edinburgh University and after a period in the Army in World War I he became interested in the mathematical theory of artillery. He became a Professor at the Military College of Science at Shrivenham.

Mathematical Profile (Excerpt):

William B Coutts' home was at Green Croft, Kinghorn.
He first matriculated at Edinburgh University in October 1904.
In his first year he took Latin and Mathematics, failing both subjects in April 1905, but passing them in the October resits.
His second year was slightly more successful since he passed Natural Philosophy and English at the first attempt in April 1906 but failed Logic and Metaphysics.
He sat the examination in Logic and Metaphysics at the resit in October 1906 but, despite improving his performance from 25% to 40%, he failed again.
He passed Logic and Metaphysics at the third attempt in April 1907, achieving a comfortable pass at 58%.
He also took three attempts to pass Chemistry, failing in July 1907 and April 1908, but passing in July 1908.
He took Honours courses in Mathematics, Analytical Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Advanced Experimental Physics between summer 1906 and 1909, but graduated M.A. without Honours in 1909.
He was awarded a B.Sc. (Pure) by the University of Edinburgh in 1912.
After graduating, Coutts taught at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh.
He was commissioned in 1915 to the Royal Garrison Artillery and served at Gibraltar.
The Royal Garrison Artillery dealt with coastal defence, mountain, siege and heavy batteries, and was responsible for ammunition storage and supply.
It was during this period that Coutts became interested in mathematical questions relating to firing.
William Baron Coutts was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 1 December 1913.
He was proposed for the fellowship by Ralph Allan Sampson, John Brown Clark, Cargill Gilston Knott, and James Robert Milne.
His obituary, written by J R H Whiston, appeared in the Royal Society of Edinburgh Year Book (1948-1949), page 12.
Born at Kinghorn, Fifeshire, on May 26, 1885, he was educated at Edinburgh University and after a period as a schoolmaster was commissioned in 1915 to the R.G.A. (S.R.).
He served at Gibraltar, and it was his work on the Rock which created his lifelong interest in the problems of fire direction and control.
In 1917 he was recalled to join the 35th Advanced Class and after completing the course and obtaining the p.a.c. - a distinction of which he was very proud - he was appointed first Instructor and then Senior Lecturer in Range Finding at the College.
In 1938 he was promoted to be Assistant Professor of Fire Control Instruments, a position which he held until his death.
He was also a member of the Council of the Optical Society and for a period of five years was one of its Honorary Secretaries.
He was for many years a regular contributor on Optical Instruments in the Journal of Scientific Instruments.
He was beloved alike by his colleagues and students, to whom he was universally known as "Willie", and his gift of dry Scotch humour enlivened many otherwise dreary conferences and lectures.
His specialised knowledge of optical and fire control instruments, and his ability to teach the subjects to technical officers will be a great loss.
He is one of quite a number who attended the 1913 Edinburgh Mathematical Colloquium held in Edinburgh during the week beginning Monday 4th August 1913, then applied for membership of the Society.
After he became a Professor at the Military College of Science, he left the Edinburgh Mathematical Society.

Born at Kinghorn, Fifeshire, on May 26, 1885, he was educated at Edinburgh University and after a period as a schoolmaster was commissioned in 1915 to the R.G.A. (S.R.). * He served at Gibraltar, and it was his work on the Rock which created his lifelong interest in the problems of fire direction and control. * In 1917 he was recalled to join the 35th Advanced Class and after completing the course and obtaining the p.a.c. - a distinction of which he was very proud - he was appointed first Instructor and then Senior Lecturer in Range Finding at the College. * In 1938 he was promoted to be Assistant Professor of Fire Control Instruments, a position which he held until his death. * He was also a member of the Council of the Optical Society and for a period of five years was one of its Honorary Secretaries. * He was for many years a regular contributor on Optical Instruments in the Journal of Scientific Instruments. * He was beloved alike by his colleagues and students, to whom he was universally known as "Willie", and his gift of dry Scotch humour enlivened many otherwise dreary conferences and lectures. * His specialised knowledge of optical and fire control instruments, and his ability to teach the subjects to technical officers will be a great loss. * He is one of quite a number who attended the 1913 Edinburgh Mathematical Colloquium held in Edinburgh during the week beginning Monday 4th August 1913, then applied for membership of the Society. * After he became a Professor at the Military College of Science, he left the Edinburgh Mathematical Society.

Born 26 May 1885, Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland. Died 16 December 1946, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

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Origin Scotland

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Adapted from other CC BY-SA 4.0 Sources:

O’Connor, John J; Robertson, Edmund F: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive

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Person: Coutts, William Barron

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