Ian Sneddon was born December 8, 1919 Glasgow, Scotland. Ian’s father was Naismith Sneddon, who was from a Scottish family that had immigrated to Arizona with the hopes of finding gold. Ian was raised in a poor but loving and caring home. Sneddon went to the Thornwood Primary School. From the age of 10 he was successful in competing for a place at the new Hyndland Secondary School in Glasgow. At 15 Ian became Dux of the school. James Milroy, Ian’s mathematics teacher, persuaded him to stay at the school for one additional year to study mathematics. At 16, in 1936, Ian entered the University of Glasgow. While at the university, Ian was interested in both physics and mathematics. Ian graduated i