William Duncan MacMillan
Encyclopedia
William Duncan MacMillan (July 24, 1871–1948) was an American
mathematician
and astronomer
.
He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin to D. D. MacMillan, who was in the lumber business, and Mary Jane MacCrea. He had a sister and two brothers; the last would later becoming managers of Cargill Elevator company of Minneapolis.
William graduated from La Crosse High School in 1888. In 1889 he attended Lake Forest College, then entered the University of Virginia
. Later in 1898 he earned an A.B. degree from Fort Worth University. He performed his graduate work at the University of Chicago
, earning a M.A.
in 1906 and a Ph.D.
in 1908.
In 1907, prior to completing his Ph.D., he joined the staff of the University of Chicago as a research assistant in geology. In 1908 he became an associate in mathematics, then in 1909 he began instruction in astronomy
at the same institution. His career as a professor began in 1912 when he became an assistant professor. In 1917 the U.S. declared war on Germany
, and Dr. MacMillan served as a major
in the U.S. army's ordinance department during World War I
. Following the war he became associate professor in 1919, then full professor in 1924.
He made noted contributions in mathematics and astronomy. He was an early proponent of a theory in the context of solving Olbers' paradox
(1922) that would later be called the "tired-light
hypothesis" of cosmology
.
In an Associated Press
report Dr. MacMillan speculated on the nature of interstellar civilizations, believing that they would be vastly more advanced than our own. "Out in the heavens, perhaps, are civilizations as far above ours as we are above the single cell, since they are so much older than ours."
The crater MacMillan
on the Moon
is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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....
and astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin to D. D. MacMillan, who was in the lumber business, and Mary Jane MacCrea. He had a sister and two brothers; the last would later becoming managers of Cargill Elevator company of Minneapolis.
William graduated from La Crosse High School in 1888. In 1889 he attended Lake Forest College, then entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Later in 1898 he earned an A.B. degree from Fort Worth University. He performed his graduate work at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, earning a M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1906 and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1908.
In 1907, prior to completing his Ph.D., he joined the staff of the University of Chicago as a research assistant in geology. In 1908 he became an associate in mathematics, then in 1909 he began instruction in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at the same institution. His career as a professor began in 1912 when he became an assistant professor. In 1917 the U.S. declared war on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Dr. MacMillan served as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the U.S. army's ordinance department during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Following the war he became associate professor in 1919, then full professor in 1924.
He made noted contributions in mathematics and astronomy. He was an early proponent of a theory in the context of solving Olbers' paradox
Olbers' paradox
In astrophysics and physical cosmology, Olbers' paradox is the argument that the darkness of the night sky conflicts with the assumption of an infinite and eternal static universe. It is one of the pieces of evidence for a non-static universe such as the current Big Bang model. The argument is also...
(1922) that would later be called the "tired-light
Tired light
Tired light is a class of hypothetical redshift mechanisms that was proposed as an alternative explanation for the redshift-distance relationship. These models have been proposed as alternatives to the metric expansion of space of which the Big Bang and the Steady State cosmologies are the most...
hypothesis" of cosmology
Physical cosmology
Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion...
.
In an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
report Dr. MacMillan speculated on the nature of interstellar civilizations, believing that they would be vastly more advanced than our own. "Out in the heavens, perhaps, are civilizations as far above ours as we are above the single cell, since they are so much older than ours."
The crater MacMillan
MacMillan (crater)
MacMillan is a bowl-shaped lunar impact crater on the eastern fringes of the Mare Imbrium. It is located just to the southwest of a lone rise, near the southwestern edge of the Montes Archimedes. This is a cup-shaped depression in the surface with an interior albedo that matches the nearby lunar mare...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named in his honor.