In 1969 Paul Dirac retired as Lucasian professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and Lighthill was appointed to succeed him. Lighthill held the Lucasian chair for 10 years and was proud to hold the chair once held by Newton .
Sa 1969 Paul Dirac nagretiro bilang Lucasian propesor ng Matematika sa Unibersidad ng Cambridge at Lighthill ay hihirangin upang magtagumpay sa kanya. Lighthill gaganapin ang Lucasian upuan para sa 10 taon at noon ay ipinagmamalaki na humawak ng upuan kapag hawak ng Newton.