This is the first full-scale biography of Leonhard Euler (1707-83), one of the greatest mathematicians and theoretical physicists of all time. In this comprehensive and authoritative account, Ronald Calinger connects the story of Euler's eventful life to the astonishing achievements that place him in the company of Archimedes, Newton, and Gauss. Drawing chiefly on Euler's massive published works and correspondence, which fill more than eighty volumes so far, this biography sets Euler's work in its multilayered context-personal, intellectual, institutional, political, cultural, religious, and social. It is a story of nearly incessant accomplishment, from Euler's fundamental contributions to almost every area of pure and applied mathematics-especially calculus, number theory, notation, optics, and celestial, rational, and fluid mechanics-to his advancements in shipbuilding, telescopes, ballistics, cartography, chronology, and music theory.
The narrative takes the reader from Euler's childhood and education in Basel through his first period in St. Petersburg, 1727-41, where he gained a European reputation by solving the Basel problem and systematically developing analytical mechanics. Invited to Berlin by Frederick II, Euler published his famous Introductio in analysin infinitorum, devised continuum mechanics, and proposed a pulse theory of light. Returning to St. Petersburg in 1766, he created the analytical calculus of variations, developed the most precise lunar theory of the time that supported Newton's dynamics, and published the best-selling Letters to a German Princess-all despite eye problems that ended in near-total blindness. In telling the remarkable story of Euler and how his achievements brought pan-European distinction to the Petersburg and Berlin academies of sciences, the book also demonstrates with new depth and detail the central role of mathematics in the Enlightenment.
Industry Reviews
One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 "Ronald Calinger's impressively detailed biography memorably portrays an extraordinarily able scientist rather than a hero of the Enlightenment as it is conventionally conceived."--Ulinka Rublack, Times Literary Supplement "Leonhard Euler, written by historian of mathematics Ronald Calinger, is perhaps the first biography that attempts to offer a panoramic view of this immense body of work... This impressively researched tome will be of great value to anyone with a serious interest in the history of mathematics and the Enlightenment."--David Castelvecchi, Nature "[A]n impressive work of scientific biography... A fascinating portrait of Euler, his work and the world around him."--The Economist "The book is so rich in information that it makes it the best reference work on Euler that is currently available... This book will be a standard for many years to come."--Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society "An excellent new biography."--Mark Ronan, Standpoint "This work befits Leonhard Euler, one of the greatest mathematicians ever, and fills in details that raise his stature even further. Calinger is respected for his texts that explore the history of mathematics. This focused effort is his best! Calinger successfully embeds Euler's mathematical and physics results in a rich context--cultural, political, religious, and intellectual--while providing great insight into Euler as a person... Read this book about Euler and be enlightened!"--Choice "This biography gives a complete picture of the person Euler and his scientific work. For the interested reader a must."--Eos "Written in a masterly manner."--Eberhard Knobloch, Zentralblatt MATH "The present monograph is an important contribution on Euler's life and on his achievements in various areas of human knowledge, being of interest to all people interested in the development of science in historical perspective."--S. Cobza, Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Methematica
