Leonhard+Euler

__Leonhard Euler (1707 - 1783) __   Leonhard Euler was born in Basel, Switzerland, on April 15, 1707. Leonhard went to school in Basel but barely learned any mathematics. Euler’s interest in mathematics began when began to read his father’s texts and took private lessons. Euler’s father wanted him to follow in his footsteps, so he sent him to the University of Basel to prepare his son for the ministry. He graduated the University of Basel in 1724. During his time at the university, he was privately tutored in mathematics by Johann Bernoulli. Bernoulli was so impressed with Euler’s ability, that he convinced his father to let Leonhard to become a mathematician. A few years later Euler took up a position at the Academy of Sciences in St Petersburg, Russia. Euler was offered the position when Nicolaus Bernoulli died. Euler accepted the position in 1726 but refused to travel to Russia until the following year. The reason for this was because a position as the professor of physics was open at the University of Basel. When Euler found out he wasn’t ’picked as the professor of physics, he set out for St Petersburg. Through the requests of Daniel Bernoulli and Jakob Hermann, Euler was appointed to the mathematical-physical division of the Academy rather than to the physiology position he had originally been offered. Euler served as a medical lieutenant in the Russian navy from 1727 to 1730. In 1730, Euler became professor of physics at the academy and became a full member of the Academy. In 1733, Euler was appointed to the the senior chair of mathematics. On January 7, 1734, Euler married Katharina Gsell. The couple had thirteen children, but only five survived infancy. By 1740 Euler had a very high reputation. Euler won the Grand Prize of the Paris Academy in 1738 and 1740. in 1741, he moved his family to Berlin to take over as director of mathematics at the Academy of Sciences under Frederick the Great. Euler returned to St Petersburg and continued to write scientific reports. Euler also educated young Russians. During the twenty-five years spent in Berlin, Euler wrote around 380 articles. He wrote books on the calculus of variations, on the calculation of planetary orbits, on artillery and ballistics, on analysis, on shipbuilding and navigation, on the motion of the moon, lectures on the differential calculus, and a popular scientific publication Letters to a Princess of Germany. In 1763 Frederick’s continued interference with the running of the Academy caused Euler to leave. In 1766 Euler returned to St Petersburg and Frederick was greatly angered at his departure. Soon after his return to Russia, Euler became almost entirely blind after an illness. In 1771 his home was destroyed by fire and he was able to save only himself and his mathematical manuscripts. A cataract operation restored his sight but after a few days, Euler went totally blind. Because of his remarkable memory, Euler was able to continue with his work on optics, algebra, and lunar motion. Amazingly, Euler produced almost half his total works during his blindness. He was helped by his sons, Johann Albrecht Euler and Christoph Euler. Euler died on September 18, 1783, in St Petersburg, Russia. After his death, the St Petersburg Academy continued to publish Euler’s unpublished work for nearly fifty years.