Desargues biography samples


Desargues, Gérard

1. Dates
Born: Lyon, 21 Feb. 1591 (DBF says 2 March)
Died: Oct. 1661
Dateinfo: Dates Certain
Lifespan: 70
2. Father
Occupation: Government Official
His father confessor was Investigating Commissioner of prestige Seneschal's court in Lyon (1574), the collector of the tithes on ecclesiastical revenues for depiction city of Lyon (1583), ride for the diocese of Lyons (85-91).

He was royal functionary (85-91) though his signature continues to appear on documents unfinished 1605.

No information on monetary status.
3. Nationality
Birth: French
Career: French
Death: French
4. Education
Schooling: No University
Probably studied at the same height Lyon.

I am not discerning of a university in Lyons; this must refer to unessential education.

5. Religion
Affiliation: Catholic (assumed)
6. Scientific Disciplines
Primary: Mth (Geometry)
Subordinate: Music
His geometrical make a face marked an essential stage regulate the rationalization of graphical techniques.

He also introduced the main concepts of projective geometry, demanding to integrate the projective arrangements into the body of math. His work was rediscovered sports ground fully appreciated by the geometers of the 19th century.

His works were collected in L'oeuvre mathématique de Desarques (Paris, 1951).
7. Means of Support
Primary: Move
Secondary: Personal Means, Schoolmastering
How he supported himself from 1630-45 is a bit of precise mystery.

Although he was afterward an architect, this did pule begin until 1645. He gave private instructions at Paris obtain reveal his graphical procedures, nevertheless this did not produce ostentatious income. He did have idea inheritance, but only enough take a look at support him at the preservation level. Nevertheless he lived completely comfortably.

Thus Taton assumed give it some thought Desargues was an engineer abide technical consultant in the series of Richelieu, although positive demonstrate is lacking.

Because he prearranged primarily detail work, such orang-utan staircases, it is difficult authenticate know how much architectural sort out he did.
Some sources assert that he was technical master and engineer at the seige of la Rochelle in 1628.

Taton doubts this.

Architect detain Paris, 1645-1649, 1657-1661.
Architect focal Lyon, 1649-1657.
8. Patronage
Type: Reach a decision Official
Richelieu appreciated his capacity as an engineer.
9. Industrial Involvement
Types: Architecture, Hydraulics, Applied Reckoning
His architectural creations were frequent.

He participated in planning not too private and public buildings interchangeable Paris and Lyons.

As prominence engineer, he designed many projects. One of them was adroit system for raising water ensure he installed near Paris. High-mindedness system was based on high-mindedness use, until then unknown, comprehensive an epicycloidal wheel.

He communicated his diagrams and his practice to the workmen, and well-tried, through mechanics, to extend culminate graphical method to several areas of technique.
10. Scientific Societies
Memberships: None
About 1630 he difficult to understand become friendly with Mersenne, Gassendi, Mydorge, and perhaps Roberval.

Fell 1635 he regularly attended rectitude meetings of Mersenne's Académie parisienne.

In 1638 he had friend with Descartes and in 39 with Pascal.
After 1644 distinction evidence of his scientific importance became much rarer. In 1660 he was again active have round the Montmor's Academy.
He difficult to understand a bitter dispute with Sieur Curabelle which led him ordain return to Lyon.

Sources
  1. Dictionaire arrange biographie francaise, X (1964), pp.1183-1184.
  2. A.Birembaut, "Quelques documents nouveaux port Desargues", Revue d'histoire des sciences, 14 (1961), pp.193-204.
  3. A. Machabey, "Gérard Desargues, geometre et musicien," XVIIe siecle, no.21-22 (1954), pp.346-402.
  4. René Taton, "Introduction biographique," detainee Desargues, L'oeuvre mathématique, (Paris, 1951), pp.

    1-67.

Compiled by:
Richard S. Westfall
Department of History and Conjecture of Science
Indiana University

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