Carl Friedrich Gauss

30 April 1777 – 23 February 1855

Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) was a German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, often called the 'Prince of Mathematicians'. He made foundational contributions to number theory, statistics, differential geometry, geodesy, magnetism, and astronomy, and served for nearly five decades as director of the Gottingen Observatory.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Carl Friedrich Gauss.

Life events

Born in Brunswick, Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel
30 April 1777

Gauss was born to poor working-class parents in Brunswick and showed prodigious mathematical talent as a child.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Studied at the University of Gottingen
October 1795 – September 1798

Supported by a stipend from the Duke of Brunswick, Gauss studied at Gottingen, where he made several early discoveries.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Proved the constructibility of the regular 17-gon
30 March 1796

Gauss showed that a regular heptadecagon can be constructed with compass and straightedge, a result that decided him on a career in mathematics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Disquisitiones Arithmeticae
1801

His treatise on number theory systematized the field and introduced modular arithmetic notation still in use today.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Computed the orbit of the asteroid Ceres
December 1801

Using his method of least squares, Gauss predicted where the lost asteroid Ceres would reappear, making him famous across Europe.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Johanna Osthoff
9 October 1805

Gauss married Johanna Osthoff, with whom he had three children before her death in 1809; he later married Minna Waldeck.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed director of the Gottingen Observatory
1807

Gauss became professor of astronomy and director of the observatory at Gottingen, a post he held until his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led the geodetic survey of the Kingdom of Hanover
1818 – 1832

Gauss directed a triangulation survey of Hanover, work that stimulated his invention of the heliotrope and his research in differential geometry.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Built an early electromagnetic telegraph with Wilhelm Weber
1833

Collaborating on magnetism research, Gauss and Weber constructed a working telegraph line connecting the observatory and the physics institute in Gottingen.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Gottingen
23 February 1855

Gauss died in his sleep in Gottingen at the age of 77 and was buried in the Albani Cemetery.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓