Sir Thomas Muir, 1844–1934

Part I of this paper on Sir Thomas Muir, deals with his life in Scotland and at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1892, Thomas Muir, mathematician and educator, became the third Superintendent General of Education in the Cape Colony under British rule. He will be remembered as one of the greatest organisers and reformers in the history of Cape education. Muir found relief from his arduous administrative duties by his investigations in the field of mathematics, and, in particular, of algebra. Most of his more than 320 papers were on determinants and allied subjects. His magnum opus was a five-volume work: The Theory of Determinants in the Historical Order of Development (London, 1890–1930). Muir’s publications will be covered in Part II of this paper. However, a treatment of the contents of Muir’s papers and his vast contribution to the theory of determinants, fall beyond the scope of this paper.