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Bernoulli, Jakob [Jacques]

1. Dates
Born: Basel, Switzerland 27 Dec 1654 (DSB & ADB) 6 Jan 1655 (NDB) (this has to be an issue of the calendar; take 1655)
Died: Basel, Switzerland 16 Aug 1705
Dateinfo: Dates Certain
Lifespan: 50
2. Father
Occupation: Drug Merchant
Clearly prosperous.
3. Nationality
Birth: Swiss
Career: Swiss
Death: Swiss
4. Education
Schooling: Bas?, M.A., D.D.
University: MA philosophy 1671.
Licentiate in theology 1676.
Also studied math and astronomy.
5. Religion
Affiliation: evangelical--i.e, Lutheran 6. Discipline: mathematics.
Subordinate: mechanics, astronomy.
6. Scientific Disciplines
Primary: None
7. Means of Support
Primary: Academic Position
Secondary: Personal Means, Schoolmaster
1676, went as a tutor to Geneva.
Then 2 years in France.
1681-2, went to Netherlands & England, studied more science.
1683, returned to Basel, gave lectures as MA on mechanics (Experimentalphysik).
1687, became prof of mathematics at U. of Basel.
8. Patronage
Type: City Magistrates
His father was a Ratsherr of Basel.
9. Technological Involvement
Types: None
10. Scientific Societies
Memberships: Académie Royal des Sciences, Berlin Academy
Informal: influenced his younger brother Johann I; early in his career they colaborated, later (by 1699) they did not get along.
Corresponded with major mathematicians of the time.
Formal: published in Journal des Scavans and Acta Eruditorum.
1699, became corresponding (foreign) member of Paris Académie des Sciences.
1701, became member of die Societaet der Wissenschaften in Berlin.
Sources
  1. J. O. Fleckstein, Johann und Jakob Bernoulli, (Basel, 1949), which is supplement 6 to the journal Elemente der Mathematik -- Swain QA 29 . B52 F5 -- little biographical O. Spiess, in Neue Deutsche Biographie, 2, 128-9, 130-1
Not Available and Not Consulted
  1. Obituary in Acta eruditorum, 1706 Allegemeine Deutche Biographie, 2.
  2. J. J. Battier, Vita J. B., (Basel 1705).
  3. G. Kowalewski, Grosse Mathematiker, (1938).
Compiled by:
Richard S. Westfall
Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Indiana University

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©1995 Al Van Helden
Last updated
 
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