Thomas Parkes Kent, mathematician and author, was the son of Alfred Kent and his wife Sarah Parkes. He received
his education at Kingswood School in Bath, England, and continued his studies
at the University of London and at Christ Church, University of Oxford. He was awarded
the degree Bachelor of Arts (BA) by the University of Oxford in 1890, with
first class honours in mathematics, and
graduated as Master of Arts in 1895. Thereafter he held the position of
assistant master, first at Fettes College in Edinburgh and then at Cranleigh
School in Surrey.
Kent came to South Africa in 1902 to take up an
appointment as professor of mathematics in the university department of the
Diocesan College in Cape Town. That same year, on the basis of his masters
degree from the University of Oxford, the University of the Cape of Good Hope
admitted him as an MA graduate. In 1908 the mathematical departments of the
Diocesan and South African Colleges were amalgamated, with the result that Kent
served both institutions. When university courses were discontinued at the
Diocesan College early in 1911 he became the full-time additional professor of
mathematics at the South African College, where the senior professor was
Lawrence Crawford*. Kent remained at the college, and from 1918 its successor,
the University of Cape Town, until his death in 1923. He was a captivating
lecturer and was known for his good humour, wit, and his capacity for hard work.
However, he does not appear to have published any scientific papers.
Kent became a member of the South African
Association for the Advancement of Science in 1903 and was still a member in
1918. By 1917 he was a member also of the Royal Society of South Africa.
In addition to mathematics Kent had a strong
interest in the English poets and essayists and contributed many writings of
his own to various local magazines and newspapers. A selection of his work was
published after his death under the title Essays
and improvisations (with some verse) (1924). Many years earlier he had also
written a novel, The flick of fortune
(1900), under the name Thomas Parkes. He was the editor of the Diocesan College
Magazine from 1903 to 1910, was one of the seven persons who assisted Professor
William Ritchie in writing The history of
the South African College, 1829-1918 (Cape Town, 1918), and was a trustee
of the South African Library. In 1906 he married Constance Lydia Beard, with
whom he had three sons and a daughter.
