Biography of Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier

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Biography of Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier

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• maths
• mathe

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• Publié par: ybezakit
• Nombre de lectures: 163
• Langue: Français

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Biography of Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier

Dates of Birth and Death: (∗) 21 March 1768 in Auxerre, France (†) 16 March 1830 in Paris, France

Family Data: Fourier’s father was a tailor, who married twice and had twelve children. Jean Baptiste Joseph was the ninth child.His mother died when he was nine years old, the father died one year later.His great-uncle wasPierre Simon Laplace(1749-1827). Fourier was engaged in the French Revolution, but nearly became its victim.

Education: Fourier at first attented Pallais school, which was run by the music teacher of the cathedral.Jean Baptiste was very gifted in languages and mathematics. ´ From 1780 he was educated at the Ecole Royale Militaire in Auxerre, run by Benedictines. Whenhe was thirteen years old he discovered his interest in mathematics. In 1787 Fourier entered the Benedictine Abbey St.Benoit-sur-Loire, because he wanted to become a priest, but left it in 1789.

Professional Career: ´ In 1790 Fourier became a professor at the Ecole Royale Militaire in Auxerre. In 1795 he went to Paris and in 1797 became the successor ofJoseph-Louis ´ Lagrange(1736-1813) as Professor for Analysis and Mechanics at the Ecole Polytechnique.In1798hehadtofollowNapol´eonBonapartetoEgyptas the scientific consultant.There he supervised all scientific discoveries and research and, as governor of Southern Egypt, he organized the French Army when cut off from France by the English navy.He was secretary of the Cairo ´´ Institut d’Egypte and collaborator of theDe´csetypEg’elndioptri. AfterFourierreturnedtoFrancein1802Napole´onmadehimPrefectof theD´epartementIs`ereandin1808madehimaBaronet.Heinitiatedthe drainageoftheswampsnearbyLyon.In1815,Napol´eonmadehimPrefectof theD´epartmentRhoˆne.Since1815FourierlivedinParisandwassince1817