Smith-White, William Broderick

Smith-White was born of 14 April 1909 and died on 8 of February 1986 after an illness lasting just over a year. He attended Petersham Superior Public School and then Hurlstone Agricultural High School (Trinity College in Summer Hill now occupies the site). He went to Fort Street boys for his leaving Certificate at which he obtained first class honours in mathematics and physics and entered Sydney University in 1926. He gained a first in both Mathematics and Physics, Mathematics in 1928 and Physics ( with the University Medal in 1929). He was awarded the Barker Travelling Scholarship in Mathematics. He then went to Emmanuel College , Cambridge to begin the Mathematics Tripos Part II. He distinguished himself again, emerging as a "B star wrangler". Due to the difficulties in gaining employment imposed by the depression Smith-White returned home and worked in the actuarial section of an insurance company.

At Sydney University Carslaw became ill, so Smith-White began teaching his classes which were mainly at honours level. He continued teaching and eventually became a lecturer and shared the enormous teaching load until the war ended.

He married his wife Sheila in 1940 and they had four children. His son, Richard, died unexpectedly in 1967. His twin brother Spencer enjoyed a distinguished academic career as a geneticist, also at Sydney University.

In much of the 50's and 60's Smith-White taught the majority of classes in analysis and became a well known person to consult inside and outside the mathematics department. He served as a University representative until his retirement in 1974 and was an active participant in the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Taken from Biog file, John Mack, April, 1986