Edward Burns Ross
Prof Edward Burns Ross FRSE was a 20th-century Scottish mathematician.Life
He was born on 28 September 1881 in Maud, Aberdeenshire the son of William Ross, an Inland Revenue supervisor. Following his father's death, his mother moved the family to Edinburgh in 1888. He was then educated at George Watson's School and was school dux in 1898. He studied mathematics and physics at the University of Edinburgh graduating with an MA in 1902. He then continued with postgraduate studies, using a Ferguson Scholarship, in Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, gaining a further MA in 1906.
In 1906 he became assistant to Karl Pearson at University College, London staying for one academic year, and in 1907 obtained a post at Madras Christian College in India. His pupils included S. R. Ranganathan who later dedicated a book to him.
In 1921 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Sir Edmund Taylor Whittaker, Ellice Horsburgh, Cargill Gilston Knott and David Gibb.
He retired due to ill-health in 1932 and went to live with his sisters at 41 Liberton Brae in south Edinburgh.
He died on 11 January 1947.
