Ernest William Hobson, 1856 - 1933

Abstract Ernest William Hobson, who was born at Derby on October 27, 1856, and died rather suddenly, after a short illness, on April 19, 1933, had been for many years one of the first of English mathematicians. Although he lived to be 76, he was active almost up to his death; his last book (and perhaps in some ways his best) was published when he was 74. He was a singular exception to the general rule that good mathematicians do their best work when they are young. Hobson was the son of William Hobson, who was editor and part proprietor of the Derbyshire Advertiser and was prominent in municipal affairs. He was the eldest of a family of six, J. A. Hobson, the wellknown economist, being one of his brothers. His early education was at Derby School. Derby had a mathematical master* of more than usual ability, and Hobson’s mathematical talents were very soon, noticed and encouraged. At 13 he had his first opportunity of distinguishing himself in competition, and was first in all England in the old “ Junior Local ” . It is interesting to observe that he also attained u distinction ” in French, music, and natural science ; such lists usually show nothing but general ability, but in Hobson’s case the subjects represented interests which survived. He was a good linguist (though German was his language in later life rather than French); was definitely musical; and, as he showed in his Gifford lectures, had an exceptional all-round knowledge of science.