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Carl Friedrich Gauss

German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist

Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss was a prominent German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He made significant contributions to mathematics, science, and geodesy. Gauss is recognized as one of the most influential mathematicians in history, often referred to as the 'Prince of Mathematicians'. He played a key role in various fields, including number theory, algebra, and non-Euclidean geometry. Gauss also contributed to the discovery of Ceres as a dwarf planet and made advancements in geophysics and electromagnetism.

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Albert Einstein Carl Sagan James Clerk Maxwell Isaac Newton Quantum Mechanics Theory of Relativity Erwin Schrödinger Ludwig Boltzmann Bertrand Russell Galileo Galilei

Timeline

Birth of Carl Friedrich Gauss

Carl Friedrich Gauss was born on April 30, 1777.

First Significant Discovery

On January 1, 1792, Carl Friedrich Gauss made his first significant discovery.

Discovery of Fundamental Theorem of Quadratic Residues

In 1795, Gauss went to Göttingen where he discovered the fundamental theorem of quadratic residues.

Proof of Quadratic Reciprocity Law

On April 8, 1796, Carl Friedrich Gauss became the first to prove the quadratic reciprocity law.

Conjecture of Prime Number Theorem

On May 31, 1796, Carl Friedrich Gauss conjectured the prime number theorem.

Doctoral Thesis

On January 1, 1797, Carl Friedrich Gauss completed his doctoral thesis.

Correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Carl Ludwig von Lecoq

The letters exchanged between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Carl Ludwig von Lecoq from February 1799 to September 1800 are edited by Theo Gerardy. This correspondence is part of the Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen, Mathematisch-Physikalische Klasse, No. 4.

Publication of Disquisitiones Arithmeticae

On January 1, 1801, Carl Friedrich Gauss published his work 'Disquisitiones Arithmeticae'.

Prediction of Ceres' Position

On December 7, 1801, Ceres, a new 'small planet' discovered by G. Piazzi, was rediscovered by Zach almost exactly where Carl Friedrich Gauss had predicted. Gauss used his least squares approximation method for this prediction.

Correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Rev. Nevil Maskelyne

The correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne during the years 1802 to 1805 is studied in works by Eric G. Forbes and Clifford Cunningham. Their letters shed light on scientific discussions and exchanges between the two.

Investigation of Pallas' Orbit

In June 1802, Carl Friedrich Gauss visited Olbers to investigate the orbit of Pallas, a planet discovered by Olbers in March of that year. Olbers suggested Gauss to be the director of a new observatory in Göttingen, but no action was taken.

Marriage of Carl Friedrich Gauss and Johanna Ostoff

On 9 October 1805, Carl Friedrich Gauss married Johanna Ostoff. This marked a happy personal milestone for Gauss, but was followed by tragic events in the coming years.

Correspondence between Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss

The letters exchanged between Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss from July 1807 to December 1854 are compiled in this publication edited by Karl Christian Bruhns. It also includes letters from other correspondents.

Correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Heinrich Christian Schumacher

The correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Heinrich Christian Schumacher, edited by Christian August Friedrich Peters, covers various volumes from 1860 to 1865. The letters provide insights into their discussions and collaborations.

Publication of Theoria motus corporum coelestium

In 1809, Carl Friedrich Gauss published his second book, Theoria motus corporum coelestium, which was a major two-volume treatise on the motion of celestial bodies. The first volume discussed differential equations, conic sections, and elliptic orbits, while the second volume focused on estimating and refining a planet's orbit.

Disquisitiones generales circa series infinitam

Gauss provided the first systematic treatment of the general hypergeometric function and showed the connection between various functions known at the time and the hypergeometric function. This work marked the first exact inquiry of convergence of infinite series in mathematics.

Gauss's General Law of Biquadratic Reciprocity

Around 1814, Gauss stated the general law of biquadratic reciprocity and proved several special cases of it. Although he claimed to have found a general proof, it was never published. His work on biquadratic residues paved the way for advancements in the theory of numbers and higher arithmetic.

Gauss and Fermat's Last Theorem

In 1816, Gauss was encouraged to compete for a prize on Fermat's Last Theorem but declined due to his views on the matter. However, he later developed proofs for the cases n = 3 and n = 5, showcasing his mathematical prowess and innovative approaches.

Geodetic Connection Triangulation

In October 1818, Gauss and Schumacher determined angles between Lüneburg, Hamburg, and Lauenburg for geodetic connection. Gauss later personally directed triangulation from Thuringia to the river Elbe.

Geodetic Survey Commissioned by King George IV

In May 1820, King George IV commissioned Carl Friedrich Gauss to continue the geodetic survey initiated by his former student Heinrich Christian Schumacher, aiming to determine the geodetic arc of the Jutland peninsula.

Gauss wins Copenhagen University Prize with Theoria attractionis

In 1822, Gauss won the Copenhagen University Prize with his work Theoria attractionis, which introduced the idea of mapping one surface onto another to make them similar in their smallest parts.

Gauss-Markov Theorem

In 1823, Carl Friedrich Gauss proved the method of least squares under the assumption of normally distributed errors, known as the Gauss-Markov theorem, in his two-part paper Theoria combinationis observationum erroribus minimis obnoxiae.

Publication of Theoria attractionis

Gauss's paper Theoria attractionis was published in 1825, further elaborating on the concept of mapping surfaces to achieve similarity in their smallest parts.

Invention of Magnetometer by Carl Friedrich Gauss

Carl Friedrich Gauss invented an early type of magnetometer in 1828. This device measures the direction and strength of a magnetic field, contributing to the study of terrestrial magnetism.

Gauss's principle of least constraint

Gauss's principle of least constraint of 1829 combined D'Alembert's principle with Lagrange's principle of Virtual Work, overcoming the division of mechanics into statics and dynamics. It showed analogies to the method of least squares.

Gauss' Personal Distress

After the death of his first wife and the declining health of his second wife and children, Gauss experienced severe personal distress, as indicated in a letter to Bessel in December 1831.

Gauss and Weber investigate theory of terrestrial magnetism

In 1832, Gauss and Weber started studying the theory of terrestrial magnetism after Alexander von Humboldt sought Gauss's help in creating a grid of magnetic observation points worldwide. Gauss was enthusiastic about this project and by 1840, he had published three significant papers on the topic.

Development of Electromagnetic Telegraph by Carl Friedrich Gauss and Wilhelm Weber

In 1833, Carl Friedrich Gauss and Wilhelm Weber built one of the first electromagnetic telegraphs. This invention was a significant advancement in the field of electromagnetism.

Gauss' Research Decline

After Weber was dismissed in 1837, Gauss' research activities started to decrease. He continued to communicate with other scientists, critiquing their work and hinting that he had already made similar discoveries. His perfectionist nature led him to withhold many findings from publication until after his death.

Copley Medal Awarded to Gauss

The Royal Society awarded Gauss the prestigious Copley Medal in 1838 for his remarkable inventions and profound mathematical research in the field of magnetism, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering mathematician.

Publication of Allgemeine Theorie des Erdmagnetismus

In 1839, Gauss published 'Allgemeine Theorie des Erdmagnetismus' (General theory of geomagnetism), a crucial work that contributed to the understanding of terrestrial magnetism.

Publication of Allgemeine Lehrsätze in Beziehung auf die im verkehrten Verhältnisse des Quadrats der Entfernung wirkenden Anziehungs- und Abstossungskräfte

In 1840, Gauss published 'Allgemeine Lehrsätze in Beziehung auf die im verkehrten Verhältnisse des Quadrats der Entfernung wirkenden Anziehungs- und Abstossungskräfte' (General theorems in relation to the acting in perverse circumstances of the square of the distance of attraction and repulsion), which discussed various theories on terrestrial magnetism.

Gauss Becomes One of the First Members of the Prussian Order Pour le Merite

In 1842, Gauss was among the inaugural members of the Prussian Order Pour le Merite (Civil class), a prestigious honor highlighting his significant impact on the scientific community and his remarkable achievements in mathematics.

Dioptrische Untersuchungen

In 1843, Carl Friedrich Gauss published 'Dioptrische Untersuchungen' (Dioptrical Investigations) in German, as part of the Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften in Göttingen. This work was included in the first volume and consisted of 1-34 pages.

Gauss's Golden Jubilee Lecture

In 1849, Carl Friedrich Gauss presented his golden jubilee lecture, fifty years after receiving his diploma from Helmstedt University. The lecture was a variation of his dissertation from 1799. Despite the presence of only Jacobi and Dirichlet from the mathematical community, Gauss received numerous messages and honors.

Death of Carl Friedrich Gauss

Carl Friedrich Gauss passed away on February 23, 1855.

Briefwechsel zwischen Gauss und Bessel

In 1880, the correspondence between Carl Friedrich Gauss and Bessel was published in German by Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften. This collection included letters exchanged between December 1804 and August 1844.

Dirichlet's Planned Obituary on Gauss

K-R Biermann discusses Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet's planned obituary on Carl Friedrich Gauss in his work featured in NTM Schr. Geschichte Naturwiss. Tech. Medizin.

Gauss's Letters in Goethe's Possession

K-R Biermann delves into the letters of Carl Friedrich Gauss that were in possession of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in his publication in NTM Schr. Geschichte Naturwiss. Tech. Medizin.

Relationship between C F Gauss, A v Humboldt, and A F Möbius

K-R Biermann explores the connections between Carl Friedrich Gauss, Alexander von Humboldt, and August Ferdinand Möbius in his work published in NTM Schr. Geschichte Naturwiss. Tech. Medizin.

C F Gauss's Relationship with British Science and Literature

K-R Biermann examines the relationship of Carl Friedrich Gauss with British science and literature in his research published in NTM Schr. Geschichte Naturwiss. Tech. Medizin.

End of the Timeline
Carl Friedrich Gauss

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