he was educated at the city of oxford school and balliol college, oxford, gaining a first in mathematics in 1891. he was a fellow of corpus christi college, oxford from 1891 to 1920, and was also an assistant tutor at jesus college, oxford from 1903 to 1920. he was then appointed as professor of mathematics at the university of london, retiring in 1936. he was made an honorary fellow of corpus christi college in 1931 and of jesus college in 1934. for many years he was an external examiner in mathematical physics for the national university of ireland (nui).