Emeritus Professor Edward Brian Davies FRS

We were sorry to hear that Emeritus Professor Edward Brian Davies (known as Brian) passed away in June this year.

Brian was appointed to Chair in Mathematics at King’s in 1981, where he served the Department with distinction until his retirement in 2010. Here, we pay him tribute.

A brilliant mathematical mind

Brian played a pivotal role in strengthening King’s research and paving the way across various mathematical disciplines. He was Head of the Department of Mathematics from 1990–1993 and led the Analysis Group from 1990 until his retirement, helping establish it as a centre of international renown.

During his time at King’s, Brian mentored numerous doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. Many of these students have gone on to follow in Brian’s footsteps and develop distinguished academic careers of their own.

An illustrious academic career

Brian’s academic talents earned him multiple awards and acclaimed leadership positions over the years.

In 1995, Brian was elected Fellow of the Royal Society for his seminal work on spectral and scattering theory, heat kernels, and the analysis of quantum systems. One year later, he was elected a Fellow of King’s.

Outside of King’s, Brian was a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. He served as President of the London Mathematical Society from 2007–2009. Brian was awarded the Society’s Senior Berwick Prize in 1998 and its prestigious Pólya Prize in 2011.

A prolific scholar and lifelong learner

Over the course of his career, Brian wrote over 200 research papers, several influential monographs and two books on the philosophy of mathematics and science.

A lifelong learner, Brian spent his retired years exploring the links between ancient history, archaeology and scientific thought.

In 2010, Brian received the King’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This accolade is a testament to Brian’s pioneering contribution to mathematics and the enduring legacy he has left behind.

We would like to offer our condolences to Brian’s family, friends, former colleagues and students at this time.

Details for this obituary were taken from the King’s website.