Geometry at Cambridge, 1863--1940 (Q2507651)

The article provides a well balanced account of the history of geometry at Cambridge, from Cayley's time until World War II. Arthur Cayley is termed to have been the first English mathematician to make contributions of international standards since Newton. His special interests were topics of projective geometry; he is credited to have been a discoverer of mathematical objects and a classifier. Among the next major figures were Harry Baker, Alfred Whitehead. For the latter the view that existence in mathematics may be equated with consistency was disparaged as a `rash reliance on a particular philosophical doctrine of the creativity of the mind'. Riemann's ideas as well as the opportunity of the ICM congress in Cambridge implemented many activities. The article examines also sociological influences; yet the Cambridge community was not of the gregarious type. Although fewer British mathematicians and scientists were killed in action than the French counterparts during the First World War, the authors stress that modern algebra, Weil and others `passed Cambridge by'. In the future it should be interesting to report on the extraordinary achievements performed at the recently inaugurated Isaac Newton Institute of Cambridge.