George Boole

2 November 1815 – 8 December 1864

George Boole (1815-1864) was a largely self-taught English mathematician and logician who created Boolean algebra, the system of symbolic logic that underlies modern digital computing. Despite having no university degree, he became the first professor of mathematics at Queen's College, Cork, and published the landmark works The Mathematical Analysis of Logic (1847) and An Investigation of the Laws of Thought (1854).

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Life events

Born in Lincoln, England
2 November 1815

Boole was born the son of a shoemaker with a keen interest in science, who gave him his first instruction in mathematics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Began teaching to support his family
1831

After his father's business failed, the sixteen-year-old Boole became a schoolteacher, educating himself in advanced mathematics in his spare time.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Opened his own school in Lincoln
1834

At nineteen Boole established a school of his own, continuing his self-directed study of the works of Laplace and Lagrange.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Awarded the Royal Society's first Gold Medal for mathematics
1844

Boole received the Royal Medal for his paper 'On a General Method in Analysis'.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published The Mathematical Analysis of Logic
1847

This pamphlet first presented his idea that logic could be treated as a branch of mathematics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed first professor of mathematics at Queen's College, Cork
August 1849

Despite lacking a degree, Boole was appointed to the new Irish college on the strength of his publications, and moved to Cork.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published An Investigation of the Laws of Thought
1854

His masterwork developed Boolean algebra and applied it to logic and probability.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Mary Everest
11 September 1855

Boole married Mary Everest, niece of Sir George Everest; the couple had five daughters, including the novelist Ethel Lilian Voynich.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
1857

Boole was elected FRS in recognition of his mathematical work.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died of pneumonia at Ballintemple, County Cork
8 December 1864

After walking to lecture in a rainstorm and teaching in wet clothes, Boole developed a feverish illness and died of pneumonia at age 49.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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