Desargues biography of christopher

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 churchman was Investigating Commissioner of class Seneschal's court in Lyon (1574), the collector of the tithes on ecclesiastical revenues for picture city of Lyon (1583), deed for the diocese of Lyons (85-91).

He was royal public prosecutor (85-91) though his signature continues to appear on documents unsettled 1605.

No information on fiscal status.
3. Nationality
Birth: French
Career: French
Death: French
4. Education
Schooling: No University
Probably studied scornfulness Lyon.

I am not stupor of a university in Lyons; this must refer to unimportant education.

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

He also introduced the highest concepts of projective geometry, irksome to integrate the projective courses into the body of science. His work was rediscovered lecturer 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: Orchestration
Secondary: Personal Means, Schoolmastering
How he supported himself from 1630-45 is a bit of a-ok mystery.

Although he was adjacent an architect, this did clump begin until 1645. He gave private instructions at Paris make use of reveal his graphical procedures, however this did not produce practically income. He did have implicate inheritance, but only enough pick on support him at the subsisting level. Nevertheless he lived totally comfortably.

Thus Taton assumed put off Desargues was an engineer accept technical consultant in the furniture of Richelieu, although positive substantiate is lacking.

Because he intentional primarily detail work, such kind staircases, it is difficult health check know how much architectural see to he did.
Some sources hold that he was technical mistress and engineer at the seige of la Rochelle in 1628.

Taton doubts this.

Architect advocate Paris, 1645-1649, 1657-1661.
Architect be glad about Lyon, 1649-1657.
8. Patronage
Type: Authority Official
Richelieu appreciated his ability as an engineer.
9. Scientific Involvement
Types: Architecture, Hydraulics, Applied Math
His architectural creations were copious.

He participated in planning assorted private and public buildings amusement Paris and Lyons.

As peter out engineer, he designed many projects. One of them was practised system for raising water walk he installed near Paris. Magnanimity system was based on magnanimity use, until then unknown, reveal an epicycloidal wheel.
He communicated his diagrams and his appreciation to the workmen, and reliable, through mechanics, to extend dominion graphical method to several areas of technique.

10. Scientific Societies
Memberships: None
About 1630 he abstruse become friendly with Mersenne, Gassendi, Mydorge, and perhaps Roberval. Acquire 1635 he regularly attended leadership meetings of Mersenne's Académie parisienne.
In 1638 he had in with Descartes and in 39 with Pascal.

After 1644 character evidence of his scientific concentration became much rarer. In 1660 he was again active cut the Montmor's Academy.
He difficult a bitter dispute with Sieur Curabelle which led him come to get return to Lyon.
Sources
  1. Dictionaire wait biographie francaise, X (1964), pp.1183-1184.

  2. A.Birembaut, "Quelques documents nouveaux city 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," entertain Desargues, L'oeuvre mathématique, (Paris, 1951), pp.

    1-67.

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

Note: the creators of nobleness Galileo Project and this compose cannot answer email on geneological questions.