Gerolamo Cardano

24 September 1501 – 21 September 1576

Gerolamo Cardano (1501-1576) was an Italian polymath — physician, mathematician, astrologer, and gambler — of the Renaissance. His 1545 book Ars Magna published the first general solutions to cubic and quartic equations, and his Liber de ludo aleae contains the first systematic treatment of probability. He was also one of the most sought-after physicians of his age.

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Life events

Born in Pavia, Duchy of Milan
24 September 1501

Gerolamo Cardano was born in Pavia, the illegitimate son of Fazio Cardano, a jurist and mathematically gifted friend of Leonardo da Vinci.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Began university studies at Pavia
1520

Cardano entered the University of Pavia to study medicine, against his father's wish that he study law.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Padua
1526

After the closure of Pavia during war, Cardano completed his medical degree at Padua.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Lucia Banderini
1531

Cardano married Lucia Banderini, with whom he had two sons and a daughter.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed professor of medicine at the University of Pavia
1543

Cardano obtained the chair of medicine at Pavia, building a reputation as one of Europe's leading physicians.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Ars Magna, containing solutions to cubic and quartic equations
1545

Cardano's Artis Magnae, Sive de Regulis Algebraicis published the general solution of the cubic equation and Ferrari's solution of the quartic, a landmark in the history of algebra.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Traveled to Scotland to treat the Archbishop of St Andrews
1552

Cardano journeyed to Edinburgh and successfully treated Archbishop John Hamilton's asthma, one of the most celebrated medical consultations of the era.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Son Giovanni Battista executed for poisoning his wife
13 April 1560

Cardano's eldest son was convicted of murdering his wife and beheaded, a tragedy that devastated Cardano and damaged his standing.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Arrested by the Inquisition on charges of heresy
October 1570

Cardano was imprisoned for several months by the Inquisition in Bologna, in part for having cast a horoscope of Jesus, and was forced to abjure and barred from university teaching and publishing.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Rome
21 September 1576

Cardano spent his final years in Rome on a pension from Pope Gregory XIII and completed his autobiography, De vita propria, shortly before his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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