Person: Ellis, Leslie
Leslie Ellis was a brilliant man with broad interests and abilities who suffered from ill health all his short life. Senior Wrangler in the Mathematical tripos at Cambridge in 1840, he became a fellow of Trinity College and was interested in areas of mathematics which involved philosophical ideas.
Mathematical Profile (Excerpt):
- On official documents, Francis Ellis gives his occupation as "esquire" meaning he was of independent means.
- We note here that Robert Leslie Ellis was known by his friends as 'Leslie Ellis' and wrote papers under the name 'R Leslie Ellis'.
- He resigned his fellowship before Ellis began studying with him but later, in 1836, Challis became director of the Cambridge Observatory and Plumian Professor of Astronomy.
- A year studying with Challis would have been a wonderful experience for Ellis but sadly his health collapsed and, after six weeks residence at Papworth Everard, he had to return home.
- Ellis matriculated at Trinity College in the Michaelmas Term (October) 1836 and began his study of the mathematical tripos.
- Of course the poor health from which Ellis continued to suffer must have had a marked influence on how he behaved.
- And, despite his head start, Ellis did indeed suffer appallingly as an undergraduate, especially during his final year of hard coaching with Hopkins.
- Ellis longed for the Tripos to be over.
- Once everyone was seated in their proper places and the galleries filled with students, Ellis was led the full length of the Senate House by Thomas Burcham to thunderous applause ...
- Not only was Ellis Senior Wrangler, but he was also First Smith's prizeman and, soon after that, he was elected a fellow of Trinity College.
- Ellis was most interested in areas of mathematics which involved philosophical ideas.
- While holding his fellowship, Ellis edited two volumes of the Cambridge Mathematical Journal.
- Also in 1845, the British Association asked Ellis to write a report on recent progress in analysis.
- Although it contains no new results, Ellis's convenient account must have been of great value to the British mathematical community, still struggling to catch up with continental scholars.
- Ellis's fellowship at Trinity College ended in 1849 and, hoping to improve his health, he travelled to the south of France and north Italy.
- Ellis always retained an affectionate remembrance of him.
- Above all his sense of honour and propriety was perfect; nothing shabby or mean could exist in the same place with Leslie Ellis.
Born 25 August 1817, Bath, England. Died 12 May 1859, Trumpington, England.
View full biography at MacTutor
Tags relevant for this person:
Origin England
Thank you to the contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0! 
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- @J-J-O'Connor
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References
Adapted from other CC BY-SA 4.0 Sources:
- O’Connor, John J; Robertson, Edmund F: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
