Mathematician:Dominique François Jean Arago

Mathematician

French mathematician, physicist, astronomer and politician.

Worked in the field of optics with Augustin-Jean Fresnel.

First person to construct an electromagnet.

As an active practical astronomer and geographer in troubled political times, once found himself arrested on charges of espionage.

Nationality

French

History

• Born: 26 February 1786 in Estagel, Roussillon, France
• 1803: Entered the école Polytechnique, met and befriended Siméon-Denis Poisson
• 1805: Asked by Poisson to help to complete the measurement the meridian
• 1806: Set out with Jean-Baptiste Biot for Spain on the meridian measurement task.
• 1808: Landed on Mallorca, arrested for espionage
• 1809: After many adventures, returned home
• 1809: Became assistant professor at École Polytechnique and member of Academy of Sciences
• 1809: Started work at Paris Observatory, where he stayed for the rest of his career
• 1811: Married Lucie Carrier-Bescombes
• 1813 -- 1845: Gave a series of popular lectures on astronomy
• 1821: With Biot, extended research to the north, in Scotland at Leith, and in the Shetland Islands
• 1830: Elected as deputy from the Pyrénées-Orientales region
• 1848: Elected to serve as minister of war and the navy; elected to the Executive Power Commission
• Died: 2 October 1853 in Paris, France

Publications

• 1835: Inaugurated the Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences

Also known as

Dominique François Jean Arago is usually known by the name François Arago.

Sources

• John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson: "Dominique François Jean Arago": MacTutor History of Mathematics archive