Richard van Rees
Dutch mathematician Richard van Rees joined the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Liège in 1821. He was Rector for the academic year 1826-1827.
Born in Nimegue in 1797 and died à Utrecht in 1875, Richard van Rees studied both science and medicine at Utrecht University. Before completing his medical studies, the young Doctor of Science (1819) was appointed Professor Extraordinaire à at the Liege Faculty of Science. In homage à his talent, Utrecht conferred on him the title of doctor, honoris causa. From 1821 à 1830, van Rees taught à Elementary mathematics, transcendental mathematics and analytical mechanics.
In 1825, he was promoted to the rank of full professor, before serving as rector from 1826 to 1827. Returning to Holland in 1830, he successively taught elementary mathematics and physics at the University of Utrecht. However, he kept in close touch with his colleagues in Liège, who solemnly celebrated his admission to emeritus in 1867. His thesis De celeritate soni per fluida elastica propagati was followed by several publications, notably on magnetism and electromotive force.
Illustration : Collection Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht, inv.nr. UG-5198
