Born: 1894 (Rosario, Argentina)
Died: 1976
Biography:
Dorothy Maud Wrinch (12 September 1894 – 11 February 1976; married names Nicholson, Glaser) was a prominent mathematician and biochemical theorist known for her groundbreaking contributions in attempting to deduce protein structure using mathematical principles. Her work was centered around the controversial ‘cyclol’ hypothesis for the structure of proteins, making her a leading figure in the field.
Dorothy was born in Rosario, Argentina, to Hugh Edward Hart Wrinch, an engineer, and Ada Souter. The family later returned to England, and Dorothy grew up in Surbiton, near London. She attended Surbiton High School and went on to enter Girton College, Cambridge in 1913, where she pursued mathematics. It was during her time at Cambridge that Dorothy became involved with the Heretics Club, organized by Charles Kay Ogden. In 1914, she had the opportunity to hear Bertrand Russell speak in a lecture organized by Ogden, sparking her interest in his work.
After graduating in 1916 as a wrangler, Dorothy took the Cambridge Moral Sciences tripos for the academic year 1916–1917, studying mathematical logic with Russell in London. Her path crossed with Russell again when she was invited to Garsington Manor, the residence of his then mistress Ottoline Morell. There, she also met Clive Bell and other members of the influential Bloomsbury Group. In 1917, Dorothy introduced Russell to Dora Black, who later became his second wife. During this time, she was officially supervised by G.H. Hardy at Girton College but practically supervised by Russell in London.
Wrinch’s unwavering support for Russell led her to assist him with his writing projects while he was imprisoned for his anti-war activities in May 1918. She provided him with books and articles, demonstrating her dedication to his work. Additionally, Wrinch played an instrumental role in securing the first publication of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus in a German philosophical journal in 1921.
In London, Dorothy actively participated in the Aristotelian Society and engaged in intellectual discussions on the nature of physics, biology, and psychology. She formed a friendship with D’Arcy Thompson and had the opportunity to address the Society herself on the topic of the ‘summation of pleasures’. Through the Society, she also became acquainted with Harold Jeffreys and Raphael Demos, further expanding her professional network.
In 1918, Wrinch commenced her graduate studies under the guidance of the renowned applied mathematician John Nicholson at King’s College London, focusing on asymptotic expansions. Simultaneously, she began her teaching career at University College and continued collaborating with Jeffreys on the philosophy of scientific method. During this time, she resided in a flat at Mecklenburgh Square owned by Colette O’Neil, Russell’s former mistress.
Recognizing her potential, Girton College awarded Dorothy a prestigious four-year Yarrow Research Fellowship in 1920, granting her the freedom to explore any area of her choice. Her exceptional research abilities led her to receive an MSc in 1920 and a DSc from the University of London in 1921. Following her marriage, she moved to Oxford in 1922, where she held a series of research fellowships and lectureships at the Oxford women’s colleges for the next 16 years.
Dorothy Maud Wrinch made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and biochemistry, particularly with her pioneering work in applying mathematical principles to deduce protein structures. She remains an influential figure and an inspiration to aspiring scientists worldwide.