The Resume

(January 6, 1655-August 16, 1705)
Born in Basel, Switzerland
Professor of Mathematics at the University of Basel (1687-1705)
With his brother Johann, developed calculus of variations
Discovered the mathematical constant e while studying compound interest (1683)
Determined that the Law of Large Numbers was true for a binary random variable
Uncle of Daniel Bernoulli

Why he might be annoying:

His first name is sometimes given as Jacques or James.
Despite his discovery of it, e became known as Euler's number.
He and his brother Johann went from collaborators to rivals, attacking each other in print.
He asked that a logarithmic spiral and the motto 'Eadem mutato resurgo' ('Although changed, I rise again') be inscribed on his tombstone. The engravers carved an Archimedean spiral instead. (A logarithmic spiral is self-similar, thus fitting the motto, while an Archimedean spiral is not.)

Why he might not be annoying:

During his travels through Europe, he met the leading mathematicians of the day, including Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
He was the first mathematician to use 'integral' with its modern meaning (1690).
He was the first mathematician to develop a technique for solving separable differential equations.
He was first mathematician to apply the laws of probability to a situation other than games of chance.
A crater on the Moon was named after him and Johann.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 17th Century Scientists
• 18th Century Scientists
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 86]
• I Died in the City I Was Born In
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I Was Estranged From My Sibling
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Ruffled Collar
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Look at My Globe
• Profiles 53751-54000 (Ranked: 53897)
• Scientists

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying