William George Penney (1909-1991), (Baron Penney) OM, KBE, PhD, DSc, FRS, FRSE, FIC, Hon FCGI was an English mathematician and professor of mathematical physics at the Imperial College London and later the rector of Imperial College. He is acknowledged as having had a leading role in the development of Britain's nuclear programme
1909 June 24th. Born in Gibraltar, his father was a sergeant-major in the British Army's Ordnance Corps who was then serving overseas.
Penney was raised in Sheerness, Kent, and attended the local technical school in Colchester where he completed his technical studies.
From 1924 to 1926, he was educated at Sheerness Technical High School for Boys where he displayed a talent for science.
He applied and was admitted to the Imperial College Faculty of Natural Sciences where he began taking courses on mathematics,
1935 Obtained a D.Sc. in Mathematical Physics from the University of Cambridge
1936 Appointed Reader in Mathematics at Imperial College London, a post he held from 1936 to 1945
1967-73 Rector of Imperial College London