Charles Hermite
- Born:
- December 24, 1822, Dieuze, France
- Died:
- January 14, 1901, Paris, France
- Nationality:
- French
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician
Early Life and Education
- Born in Dieuze, Lorraine, France.
- His father, Ferdinand Hermite, worked in the textile industry.
- Began his mathematical studies at the Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris.
- Suffered from a disability in his right leg.
- Entered the École Polytechnique in 1842, but was later expelled due to neglecting other studies.
- Obtained a bachelor's degree in 1847.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a tutor and examiner at various institutions in Paris.
- Became a professor at the Sorbonne in 1869.
- Held the chair of higher algebra at the Sorbonne from 1870.
- Made significant contributions to number theory, algebra, and analysis.
- Proved that e, the base of the natural logarithm, is transcendental in 1873.
- Known for his work on elliptic functions, modular forms, and orthogonal polynomials.
- Developed Hermite polynomials and Hermite interpolation.
Notable Works
- Research on the quintic equation.
- Proof of the transcendence of e.
- Contributions to the theory of quadratic forms.
- Development of Hermite polynomials.
- Work on elliptic functions and modular forms.
Legacy and Impact
Charles Hermite, whose life story this 'dieuze charles hermite biography' details, was a highly influential mathematician. His work laid the foundation for many important areas of modern mathematics. His proof of the transcendence of e was a landmark achievement, and his contributions to other fields continue to be studied and applied today.