Leonard Euler

Leonard Euler was born in Basel. He was the son of a mathematician, a former pupil of Jakob Bernoulli. Leonard was later to study with Johann Bernoulli. The Bernoullis were, at this time, the most famous scientific family, out of which came eight scientists in rapid succession. When Johann Bernoulli's son, Nikolaus, traveled to Petersburg in 1725, the young Euler succeeded him, remaining at the academy until 1741.

Leonard Euler (1707 - 1783) Photo: German Museum Munich

From 1741 to 1766, he worked at the Academy of Berlin, returning to Petersburg to work there until 1783. He married twice, fathering 13 children. The loss of sight in both eyes, the first in 1735, and the second in 1766, did not deter him from his work. He published about 880 books, covering all aspects of science. In addition to mathematics, there were essays regarding hydraulics, ship building, artillery, lens systems, and music theory. Great mathematicians have always given credit to Euler's works. Laplace used to say to his younger scientists: "Lisez Euler, c'est notre maitre a tous" (Read Euler, he is our master of everything). Gauss and Riemann were also enthusiastic Euler fans.