Cartwright, Mary L. (1900–1998)

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Cartwright, Mary L. (1900–1998)

English mathematician. Name variations: Mary Lucy Cartwright; M.L. Cartwright. Born Dec 17, 1900; died April 3, 1998; dau. of the rector of Aynho, Northamptonshire; St. Hugh's College, Oxford, mathematics degree, 1923, DPhil, 1930.

The 1st woman mathematician elected as fellow to Royal Society, was also the 1st woman to complete mathematics degree at St. Hugh's College, Oxford (1923); wrote thesis on "Zeros of Integral Functions of Special Types"; worked on complex function theory used in aircraft design, statistical forecasts, and in proof of Fermat's last theorem; during WWII, collaborated with J.E. Littlewood on Val der Pol equation permutations and discovered examples of butterfly effect; published Integral Functions (1956); lectured in US and elected mistress of Girton College, Cambridge (1949); served as director of studies of mathematics and mechanical science, lecturer, theory of functions reader, and emeritus reader at University of Cambridge (1933–98). Served as president of Mathematical Association and president of London Mathematical Society; received the Royal Society's Sylvester Medal (1964); named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1969).