Leonhard Euler

Leonhard Euler 15 April 1707 - 18 September 1783 Leonhard Euler is said to have been the most prolific mathematician in history. His 866 books and articles represent about one third of the entire body of research on mathematics, theoretical physics, and engineering mechanics published between 1726 and 1800. Euler was born in Basel, Switzerland. His father, a pastor, wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and sent him to the University of Basel to prepare for the ministry, but geometry …

…dictate treatises on optics, algebra, and lunar motion. At his death in 1783, he left a vast backlog of articles. The St. Petersburg Academy continued to publish them for nearly 50 more years. But Euler was not just a mathematician. He also made contributions to the fields of astronomy, mechanics, optics, and acoustics. In conclusion, Euler was a well-rounded man who took charge over his physical limitations and became one of the great mathematicians of our era.