Joseph H. M. Wedderburn and the structure theory of algebras (Q2266000)

This paper contains an account of the development of the ideas which led to Wedderburn's 'principal theorem' on the structure of algebras. The starting point is Hamilton's quaternions. Later British contributions to the study of algebras (mainly matrix algebras) due to Cayley and Sylvester are discussed. Next comes the important work of Benjamin and C. S. Peirce on linear associative algebras. Another source of pertinent ideas derives from methods arising in Lie's study of transformation groups. Using these ideas further steps were taken by Scheffers, Molien and Frobenius. Finally Elie Cartan's paper of 1898 provided the basis for Wedderburn's work which brought to a close the first phase of the study of algebras and provided the foundation for 20th century work.