Previous (Chronologically) Next Biographies Index Previous ( Alphabetically) Next Welcome page
L E Dickson is known for his contributions to number theory and group theory.
A graduate of the University of Texas, Dickson received his B.S. in 1893 and his M.S. in 1894. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1896.
Dickson applied for doctoral fellowships at both Harvard and Chicago. He accepted an offer from Harvard but, on receiving a later offer from Chicago, changed his mind.
Dickson then spent some time with Lie at Leipzig and later with Jordan in Paris. On returning to the USA he became an instructor at the University of California in Berkeley.
He was appointed to the University of Texas at Austin in 1899 and served as professor at the University of Chicago from 1900 to 1939.
Dickson worked on finite fields and extended the theory of linear associative algebras initiated by Wedderburn and Cartan. He proved many interesting results in number theory, using results of Vinogradov to deduce the ideal Waring theorem in his investigations of additive number theory.
Dickson published 18 books, including Linear groups with an exposition of the Galois field theory (1901) and the 3-volume History of the Theory of Numbers (1919-23).
References:
Previous (Chronologically) Next Biographies Index Previous ( Alphabetically) Next Welcome page History Topics Index Famous curves index Chronologies Birthplace Map Mathematicians of the day Anniversaries for the year Search Form Simple Search Form Search Suggestions