Nikola Obreshkov

Nikola Dimitrov Obreshkov (Bulgarian: Никола Димитров Обрешков; March 6, 1896 in Varna (Варна) – August 11, 1963 in Sofia (София) was one of the most prominent Bulgarian mathematicians, known for his work in complex analysis, algebra, number theory, and the summation of divergent series. Showing exceptional talent from an early age, he published his first scientific work while still a student at Sofia Male Gymnasium (Софийската мъжка гимназия). In 1920, he graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics at Sofia University (Софийски университет) and began working as an assistant in mathematical analysis. Between 1922 and 1923, he specialized in Berlin (Берлин), and in 1932 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Palermo (Университет на Палермо), later receiving the Doctor of Science degree from the Sorbonne (Сорбона).

In 1928, Obreshkov became a full professor of algebra (алгебра) at Sofia University (Софийски университет) and headed the Department of Algebra (Катедра по алгебра), where he worked until the end of his life. He authored numerous textbooks and research works in algebra (алгебра), probability theory (теория на вероятностите), number theory (теория на числата), and summation of divergent series (сумируемост на дивергентни редици), which were widely used in Bulgarian schools (български училища) and universities (университети) and helped educate generations of mathematicians.

In 1945, he became a full member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Българска академия на науките), and in 1951 he was appointed director of the Mathematical Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Математически институт на БАН), a position he held until his death in 1963. Obreshkov participated in international mathematical congresses, including Bologna (Болоня) in 1928 and Oslo (Осло) in 1936, presenting his research to the global scientific community. In his honor, several Bulgarian schools bear his name, including the 68th Secondary School "Academician Nikola Obreshkov" (68. СУ „Акад. Никола Обрешков“) in Sofia and the Specialized High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Academician Nikola Obreshkov" (ППМГ „Акад. Никола Обрешков“) in Burgas (Бургас).

See also

• Obreschkoff–Ostrowski theorem

References

• European Mathematics Society Newsletter No. 51 (PDF), page 28.
• Nikola Obreshkov at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
• Nikola Obrechkoff