Leonhard Euler was a Swiss mathematician and physicist, and one of the founders of pure mathematics. He is not only renowned for being a global genius and a remarkably resilient human being, but for Euler’s Identity and Euler’s Number.
Whenever somebody has something like a formula or element named after them, you know that they’re important.
Early life
Euler was born in Basel, Switzerland on 15 April 1707 as the first of six children to Pastor Paul Euler and Marguerite Brucker. His father studied theology and maths under the renowned mathematician Jacob Bernoulli, while his mother came from a family of scholars. A stable foundation for our mathematical genius! Euler’s early education began at home, where his father taught him mathematics. Recognising his son’s exceptional talent, Paul Euler later enrolled him in the University of Basel at just 13 years old. Believe it or not, going to university at this age wasn’t too uncommon at the time. At the University of Basel, Euler initially pursued a degree in philosophy while also attending courses in theology as per his father’s wishes. Despite this, he devoted much of his time to mathematics.
Turning point
Despite his father’s wishes for him to become a minister, it was clear where Euler’s true passion lay. In 1727, Euler moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, to join the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences as an associate. His association with the academy marked the beginning of a prolific period in his career. By 1733, he succeeded Daniel Bernoulli as the chair of mathematics at the academy, where he made substantial contributions to various fields of mathematics and physics. Euler’s work during this time included advancements in calculus, trigonometry, and logarithmic functions, which greatly simplified analytical operations.
You may think homework is hard work, but Euler actually lost sight in one of his eyes in 1735 due to overexertion. Despite this – and it is the despite that makes legendary figures such as Euler – his productivity did not wane. In 1741, he received an invitation from Frederick the Great of Prussia to join the Berlin Academy. He relocated to Berlin, where he became the director of mathematics by 1744 and continued to publish extensively. He published around 380 articles during his 25 years there!
The failed fountain of Sanssouci
When Frederick the Great was crowned King of Prussia in 1740 he immediately revived the Berlin Academy of Sciences and invited scholars from throughout Europe to Berlin; including Leonhard Euler, who arrived in 1741. Frederick wanted to construct a fountain at Sanssouci palace in Potsdam, with a 100-foot jet of water pumped up from the River Havel far below the gardens. Work started in 1948 but only led to years of failed attempts. Euler was mocked by the King, who called him ‘cyclops’ because of his one eye. In reality, the problem lay with the design and not with Euler’s mathematical analysis, which was sound. The project was mismanaged by incompetent engineers who used wooden pipes which ended up bursting. Frederick hated science anyways, preferring art and philosophy, so he was really in no place to blame Euler, and in 1766, Euler left Berlin for St. Petersburg again!
Later years
Euler returned to St. Petersburg in 1766, where he remained until his death in 1783. Despite losing his eyesight almost entirely in the last 15 years of his life, Euler’s productivity did not wane. He authored over 400 memoirs during this period, which accounted for about half of his entire output, all this while being virtually blind!
Legacy and Impact
Euler’s influence on mathematics and science is immeasurable. His works were so extensive that they continued to be published decades after his death, with one memoir appearing as late as 1862! The immense volume of his output is staggering – it’s estimated that Euler authored a quarter to a third of all mathematics, physics, mechanics, astronomy, and navigation research of the 18th century. A single, blind man carrying the weight of an entire century’s worth of scientific and mathematical data on his shoulders.
Personal life
Despite his intense focus on academic pursuits, Euler was known for his ability to work amidst distraction. He married Katharina Gsell in 1734, and they had 13 children together, though only five survived infancy. Let it sink in for a moment; Euler was blind, with 13 children and published almost 900 pieces of work which still continue to influence our understanding of maths and physics today. What a person!
Leonhard Euler’s contributions to mathematics and science were truly revolutionary. His work laid the foundation for numerous branches of modern mathematics and continues to influence research and education today. Euler’s legacy as one of the greatest mathematicians in history is undisputed, with his stunning work output and ground-breaking discoveries serving as a testament to his intellect and dedication to the advancement of human knowledge.