Background
Henry James Priestley was born in Crouch Hill, London.
Henry James Priestley was born in Crouch Hill, London.
Henry James Priestley was born in Crouch Hill, London. He was educated at Mill Hill School and Jesus College, University of Cambridge, where he gained his Bachelor of Arts with honours first class (second division). He was fifth wrangler in the mathematical tripos of 1905.
In 1909 he received his Master of Arts from Cambridge.
After graduating from Cambridge, Priestley lectured in mathematics at the Victoria University of Manchester (now University of Manchester) in 1907. In 1910, The University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia advertised extensively, four new professor positions in the newly formed University. After Professor Ernest Rutherford of the University of Manchester declined it, Priestley"s application was considered and voted favourably upon.
Priestley would become Professor of mathematics and physics.
However Priestley soon realised he couldn"t teach all the necessary subjects alone, and so Thomas Parnell, who was teaching at the University of Melbourne, found his application to lecture in physics successful. By 1919 the senate of the University decided to create separate departments of mathematics and physics.
Priestley was offered either chair and chose mathematics. Thomas Parnell was offered the physics chairman
He believed the University would not succeed unless its academics published extensively to improve its reputation.
Priestley had considerable influence on university affairs, and despaired at the state of the buildings and library. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Science (1911-1919). He was President of the Royal Society of Queensland in 1923.
He spoke at lecture tours throughout Queensland, notably on Einstein"s theory of relativity.
A major building at the University of Queensland bears his name.
In 1912 Priestley became a member of the London Mathematical Society and subsequently published papers in its proceedings and in other journals, mainly in the areas of applied mathematics and mathematical physics. He was president of the Board of Faculties (later professorial board) (1922-1925) and was a member of many standing committees of the senate and board. He was a keen member of the University Musical Society.