Painlevé, Paul

(1863-1933)

   mathematician, political figure

   Born in Paris and educated at the École normale polytechnique, Paul Painlevé worked on differential equations, establishing theories concerning the function of complex variables, the general mechanics of friction, and the mechanics of fluids. interested in aviation, he was the first passenger of Wilbur Wright, the American inventor and aviator (1908), and of henri farman and, in 1910, gained from parliament the first vote for credits for aviation. in the same year, he was elected as an independent Socialist to the Chamber of Deputies. During World War I, Painlevé served as minister of public instruction (1915-16) and of war (March-November 1917). He also was prime minister in 1917 (September-November) and again in 1925, and was one of the founders of the cartel des gauches. Painlevé served in several succeeding cabinets as minister of war (1925-29), and made the initial decision concerning the Maginot Line (see andré maginot) and the one-year term of military service (1928). He was named to the Academy of Sciences in 1900.