Minkowski, Hermann |
| MATHEMATICIAN, PHYSICIST (RUSSIA) |
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BORN 22 Jun 1864, Aleksotas (near Kowno, now in Kaunas, Lithuania) - DIED 12 Jan 1909, Göttingen, Niedersachsen CAUSE OF DEATH ruptured appendix GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Friedhof Heerstrasse, Trahkener Allee 1, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (Feld 3-A-30 (Ehemaliges Ehrengrab)) |
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Hermann Minkowski was born in what is now Lithuania, but his parents were German. He read the work of Dedekind and Gauss when he was at the gymnasium in Königsberg. He became a close friend of Hilbert who was studying there at the same time. He spent three semesters in Berlin. In 1883 he shared the Grand Prix for mathematical science with the old Henry Smith. In 1885 he submitted his thesis and from 1887 onwards he taught in Bonn. In 1892 he was promoted to assistant professor. In 1894 he returned to Königsberg and in 1896 he moved on to Zürich, where his friend Hurlitz worked. In 1897 he married Auguste Adler in Strassbourg. They had two daughters. In 1902 he became a professor in Göttingen, where a chair was created for him with the help of Hilbert. He held this post until his sudden death after an operation in 1909. Related persons • employed Born, Max • was a friend of Hilbert, David • was pupil of Lindemann, Ferdinand von |
| Images |
 The grave of Hermann and Oskar Minkowski at the Friedhof Heerstrasse, Berlin. Picture by Androom (28 Mar 2007) |
