William Henry Whitfeld
William Henry Whitfeld (15 October 1856, Ashford, Kent – 1 December 1915) was an English mathematician, leading expert on bridge and whist, and card editor for "The Field". He is known as the poser of the Whitfeld Six problem in double dummy bridge.

After graduating from Chatham House Grammar School, Whitfeld matriculated in 1876 at Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated there in 1880 with B.A. as twelfth wrangler in the Mathematical Tripos and in 1884 with M.A. For several years he was a tutor and lecturer at Cavendish College, Cambridge. In 1880 he published some double-dummy problems in whist in "The Cambridge Review: A Journal of University Life and Thought" (an undergraduates' journal founded in 1879). His famous problem now known as "Whitfeld Six" was published in the London magazine "The Field" in the January 31st 1885 issue.

Whitfeld's whist problems are related to the mathematics of nested balanced incomplete block designs. He wrote the article "Bridge" for the 11th edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica". He also wrote a 6-page essay entitled "Probabilities" for the 1902 book "Principles and Practice of Whist".
In 1890 he married Ida Alberta Russell. They had three sons and two daughters. The three sons were Francis Russell (1902–1975), Miles (1903–1997), and Ivan (1904–1983). All three sons immigrated to Australia. One of the two daughters was named Margaret ("Maggie") (born 1913).
Q725261
Ashford, Kent
LOC
Q188966
bridge
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whist
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"The Field"
MEDIA
None
double dummy bridge
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Chatham House Grammar School
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Q332342
Trinity College, Cambridge
LOC
Q3539558
Mathematical Tripos
MEDIA
Q42852153
Cavendish College, Cambridge
UNK
Q751484
balanced incomplete block designs
Concept
Q867541
11th edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica"
MEDIA
Q15980313
William Henry Whitfeld
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