Maraldi, Giacomo Filippo

1. Dates

Born: Perinaldo, Imperia, Italy, 21 Aug. 1665

Died: Paris, 1 Dec. 1729

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 64

2. Father

Occupation: No Information

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Perinaldo, Imperia, Italy

Career: Paris, France

Death: Paris, France

4. Education

Schooling: No University

Studied classics and mathematics, not known where, finishing around 1687. There is no mention of a university or of a degree.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic : Catholic (assumed)

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Astronomy, Cartography

Subordinate: Natural History

7. Means of Support

Primary: Governmental Position

1687-1718, worked at the Paris Observatory compiling a new catalogue of stars.

From 1702, a member of the Académie.

8. Patronage

Type: Scientist

He was called to Paris by his uncle, Cassini I. He became his devoted collaborator, his work was very much influenced by Cassini I's opinions. Later, he collaborated with Cassini II as well.

1701, went to Rome to work on calendar for Pope Clement XI, but as far as I can tell did not. He helped Bianchi with the determination of the meridian of the church of the Carthusians.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Cartography

1700 & 1701, helped Cassini II, J.M. de Chazelles, and Piere Couplet on the project to extend the Paris meridian to the southern border.

1718, helped Cassini II and G. de la Hire extend the survey of the Paris Meridian to the north.

10. Scientific Societies

Membership: Académie Royal des Sciences

First a student (1694), then an associate (1699), and finally a pensioner (1702) of the Académie.

Sources

1. B. Fontenelle, "Eloge de M. Maraldi," Histoire de l'Académie royale des sceinces pour l'année 1729 (Paris, 1731), 158-64. [Q46.A16 1729 pt. 1] F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale, 33 (Paris, 1860), cols. 348-349. [ref. CT143. H6]
2. J.B. Delambre, Histoire de l'astronomie au XVIIIe siècle (Paris, 1827), 239-44. [Manuscripta List 87, Reel 31]

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.