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Birth
John Polkinghorn was born on 16 October 1930 in Somerset, England to Dorothy and George Polkinghorne. -
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Early life and Education
Polkinghorne fulfilled his service to his country from 1948 to 1948 in the Royal Army Educational Corps. Following his service, Polkinghorne studied mathematics at Cambridge and graduated in 1952. Shortly after, he earned his Phd in physics in 1955. During his time at Cambridge, he joined the Christian Union of UCCF and met his wife, Ruth Martin, who he later married on March 26th, 1955. -
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Physics Career
In 1955, Polkinghorne was offered a post-doctoral fellowship with the California Institute of Technology. During his time there, was then offered a follow-on position as a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh in the 1956. In 1958, he retuned to Cambridge to teach. He was then promoted to reader in 1965. In 1968, Polkinghorne was offered a professorship in mathematical physics. He held the position from 1968 until 1979.
< https://youtu.be/XirvDhRGXS4 > -
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Physicist to Priesthood
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Physicist, Priesthood, Dean, & Theologian
Following his priesthood as a curate in Bristol, Polkinghorne returned to Cambridge as Dean of the chapel of Trinity Hall. Polkinghorne became president of the Queen's College in the same year of 1986.
John Polkinghorne held his position until his retirement in 1996. He then served as a theologian for the Liverpool Cathedral from 1994 to 2005. -
Death
Sir John Polkinghorne passed away on March 9th, 2021 in Cambridge, England at the age of 90.