1904 – 1999
Sir William Hunter McCrea (1904–1999) was an Irish-born British mathematician and theoretical astrophysicist whose work spanned cosmology, stellar physics, and the philosophy of science. He contributed to debates surrounding steady-state cosmology and the philosophical implications of continuous matter creation, arguing that such nonconservative processes carry no inherent requirement for divine causal agency. His career included chairs at Queen's University Belfast, Royal Holloway College, and the University of Sussex, where he was founding Professor of Astronomy.
Argued that nonconservative appearance of new matter in steady-state cosmology requires no divine causal intervention
Contributed foundational work to steady-state cosmological theory alongside Hoyle, Bondi, and Gold
Produced influential research on stellar atmospheres and the structure of stellar interiors
Founded the Astronomy Centre at the University of Sussex (1966)
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded a knighthood for contributions to science