Monge, Gaspard

(1746-1818)

   mathematician, political figure

   Born in Beaume, Gaspard Monge was admitted to the military school at Mézières and was appointed professor of physics at lyon. In 1780, robert tur-got invited him to teach in Paris, where, joining the revolution of 1789, he served as minister of the navy and helped to found the École polytechnique (1794). He then took part in the Egyptian campaign of Napoléon Bonaparte. The recognized inventor of descriptive geometry, Monge established the general theory of figures in space. He was also the author of a number of other theories of analytical geometry, including those dealing with three dimensions. He was professor of descriptive geometry at the École polytechnique for more than 10 years, then discovered pluckerian coordinates. He studied differential equations that he applied to geometry and developed the theories of partial derivatives. interested also in practical sciences, Monges studied the nature of air and water, and did experiments similar to those of Henry Cavendish and antoine lavoisier. Monge's work is characterized by a global vision that unifies analytical, geometrical, and practical aspects. Named count of Péluse, he was, elected to the Academy of sciences in 1780.