Gilbert de Beauregard Robinson
Encyclopedia
Gilbert de Beauregard Robinson (1906–1992) was a Canadian
mathematician
most famous for his work on combinatorics
and representation theory of the symmetric group
s, including the Robinson-Schensted algorithm
.
and graduated from the University of Toronto
in 1927. He received his Ph.D at Cambridge
where his advisor was group theorist Alfred Young
. He then joined the Mathematics Department in Toronto
where he served until his retirement in 1971, except for a period of wartime service in Ottawa
.
Robinson specialized in the study of the symmetric group
s on which he became a recognized authority
. In 1938 he formulated, in a paper studying the Littlewood–Richardson rule
, a correspondence that would later become known as the Robinson-Schensted correspondence. He wrote some forty papers on the topic of symmetric groups. He also published The Foundations of Geometry (1940) and The Representations of the Symmetric Groups (1961) as well as a text on vector geometry. His last mathematical book was his edition of the collected papers of Alfred Young (1977), and he later wrote short volumes on departmental, local, and family history.
While in Ottawa, Robinson was one of the founding lecturers of Carleton University
, and was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1944. His wartime work on codes and cyphers, secret for many years, has now been described in a recently published volume Best Kept Secret by John H. Bryden
. He became director of the 'SIGINT Examination Unit'
which conducted decoding work during the war and he played a role in establishing the decoding section which gave Canada some influence in this domain postwar. Robinson's wartime services were recognized by the award of the M.B.E.
Returning to the Toronto department Robinson was present at the founding conference of the Canadian Mathematical Congress in 1945, and with H.S.M. Coxeter
he established the Canadian Journal of Mathematics which began publishing in 1949. He continued as the Managing Editor for thirty years. From 1953 to 1957, Robinson was the president of the Canadian Mathematical Society
who, in 1995, named a prize in his honour.
Robinson undertook many professional and administrative responsibilities throughout his career, including the presidencies of the science section of the Royal Society of Canada
, of the University of Toronto Settlement (a charitable foundation), the Faculty Club, the Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics, as Chairman of the NRC
Associate Committee in Mathematics, and as the first Vice-President for Research Administration at the University of Toronto, in 1965-71. For these and other community services he received several medals and other awards from the federal and provincial governments.
Robinson died in Toronto
in 1992.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
most famous for his work on combinatorics
Combinatorics
Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures. Aspects of combinatorics include counting the structures of a given kind and size , deciding when certain criteria can be met, and constructing and analyzing objects meeting the criteria ,...
and representation theory of the symmetric group
Symmetric group
In mathematics, the symmetric group Sn on a finite set of n symbols is the group whose elements are all the permutations of the n symbols, and whose group operation is the composition of such permutations, which are treated as bijective functions from the set of symbols to itself...
s, including the Robinson-Schensted algorithm
Robinson-Schensted algorithm
In mathematics, the Robinson–Schensted correspondence is a bijective correspondence between permutations and pairs of standard Young tableaux of the same shape. It has various descriptions, all of which are of algorithmic nature, it has many remarkable properties, and it has applications in...
.
Biography
Gilbert Robinson was born in Toronto in 1906. He then attended St.Andrew's CollegeSt. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario)
St. Andrew's College, also known as SAC, is an independent school founded in 1899 located in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is a university-preparatory school for boys in grades 6 to 12, with a focus on academic achievement, athletics, and leadership development...
and graduated from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1927. He received his Ph.D at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where his advisor was group theorist Alfred Young
Alfred Young
Alfred Young, FRS was a British mathematician.He was born in Widnes, Lancashire, England and educated at Monkton Combe School in Somerset and Clare College, Cambridge, graduating BA as 10th Wrangler in 1895. He is known for his work in the area of group theory...
. He then joined the Mathematics Department in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where he served until his retirement in 1971, except for a period of wartime service in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Robinson specialized in the study of the symmetric group
Symmetric group
In mathematics, the symmetric group Sn on a finite set of n symbols is the group whose elements are all the permutations of the n symbols, and whose group operation is the composition of such permutations, which are treated as bijective functions from the set of symbols to itself...
s on which he became a recognized authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
. In 1938 he formulated, in a paper studying the Littlewood–Richardson rule
Littlewood–Richardson rule
In mathematics, the Littlewood–Richardson rule is a combinatorial description of the coefficients that arise when decomposing a product of two Schur functions as a linear combination of other Schur functions. These coefficients are natural numbers, which the Littlewood–Richardson rule describes as...
, a correspondence that would later become known as the Robinson-Schensted correspondence. He wrote some forty papers on the topic of symmetric groups. He also published The Foundations of Geometry (1940) and The Representations of the Symmetric Groups (1961) as well as a text on vector geometry. His last mathematical book was his edition of the collected papers of Alfred Young (1977), and he later wrote short volumes on departmental, local, and family history.
While in Ottawa, Robinson was one of the founding lecturers of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, and was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1944. His wartime work on codes and cyphers, secret for many years, has now been described in a recently published volume Best Kept Secret by John H. Bryden
John H. Bryden
John H. Bryden is a Canadian politician, journalist, historian.-Education:He received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from McMaster University in 1966, and a Masters of Philosophy in English from the University of Leeds in 1968.-Early career:From 1969 to 1989, Bryden held...
. He became director of the 'SIGINT Examination Unit'
Canadian Intelligence Corps
The Canadian Intelligence Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army.-History:Many Canadians were active in the Intelligence field as early as 1939. Major John P...
which conducted decoding work during the war and he played a role in establishing the decoding section which gave Canada some influence in this domain postwar. Robinson's wartime services were recognized by the award of the M.B.E.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
Returning to the Toronto department Robinson was present at the founding conference of the Canadian Mathematical Congress in 1945, and with H.S.M. Coxeter
Harold Scott MacDonald Coxeter
Harold Scott MacDonald "Donald" Coxeter, was a British-born Canadian geometer. Coxeter is regarded as one of the great geometers of the 20th century. He was born in London but spent most of his life in Canada....
he established the Canadian Journal of Mathematics which began publishing in 1949. He continued as the Managing Editor for thirty years. From 1953 to 1957, Robinson was the president of the Canadian Mathematical Society
Canadian Mathematical Society
The Canadian Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and education in Canada.It was originally conceived in June 1945 as the Canadian Mathematical Congress...
who, in 1995, named a prize in his honour.
Robinson undertook many professional and administrative responsibilities throughout his career, including the presidencies of the science section of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, of the University of Toronto Settlement (a charitable foundation), the Faculty Club, the Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics, as Chairman of the NRC
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
Associate Committee in Mathematics, and as the first Vice-President for Research Administration at the University of Toronto, in 1965-71. For these and other community services he received several medals and other awards from the federal and provincial governments.
Robinson died in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1992.
External links
- Robinson Prize announcement – by the Canadian Mathematical SocietyCanadian Mathematical SocietyThe Canadian Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and education in Canada.It was originally conceived in June 1945 as the Canadian Mathematical Congress...