Leonhard Euler: A Biography

Leonhard Euler (/ˈɔɪlər/ oil-er;[2] German pronunciation: [ˈɔʏlɐ] ( listen), local pronunciation: [ˈɔɪlr̩] ( listen); 15 April 1707 – 18 September 1783) was a pioneering Swiss mathematician and physicist. He made important discoveries in fields as diverse as infinitesimal calculus and graph theory. He also introduced much of the modern mathematical terminology and notation, particularly for mathematical analysis, such as the notion of amathematical function.[3] He is also renowned for his work in mechanics, fluid dynamics, optics, and astronomy. Euler spent most of his adult life in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in Berlin, Prussia. He is considered to be the pre-eminent mathematician of the 18th century, and one of the greatest mathematicians ever to have lived. He is also one of the most prolific mathematicians ever; his collected works fill 60–80 quarto volumes.[4] A statement attributed to Pierre-Simon Laplace expresses Euler 's influence on mathematics: "Read Euler, read Euler, he is the master of us all."[5] Contents [hide] * 1 Life * 1.1 Early years * 1.2 St. Petersburg * 1.3 Berlin * 1.4 Eyesight deterioration * 1.5 Return to Russia * 2 Contributions to mathematics and physics * 2.1 Mathematical notation * 2.2 Analysis * 2.3 Number theory * 2.4 Graph theory * 2.5 Applied mathematics * 2.6 Physics and astronomy * 2.7 Logic * 3 Personal philosophy and religious beliefs * 4 Commemorations * 5 Selected bibliography * 6 See also * 7 References and notes * 8 Further reading * 9 External links |
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Life
Early years

Old Swiss 10 Franc banknote honoring Euler
Euler was born on April 15, 1707, in Basel to Paul Euler, a pastor of the Reformed Church, and Marguerite Brucker, a pastor 's daughter. He had two younger sisters named Anna Maria and Maria Magdalena. Soon after the birth of Leonhard, the Eulers moved from Basel to the town of

References: Old Swiss 10 Franc banknote honoring Euler Euler was born on April 15, 1707, in Basel to Paul Euler, a pastor of the Reformed Church, and Marguerite Brucker, a pastor 's daughter Logic Euler is also credited with using closed curves to illustrate syllogistic reasoning (1768)