Poinsot, Louis (1777-1859)

Poinsot, Louis

MATHEMATICIAN (FRANCE)

BORN 3 Jan 1777, Clermont-en-Beauvaises, Oise - DIED 5 Dec 1859, Paris: 1e Ancien
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (Division 04, avenue Principale, ligne 01 (M: AC-16))

Louis Ponsot was the son of a grocer. He studied at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris from 1789 to 1793 and afterwards at the École Centrale des Travaux Publics and from 1797 at the École d'Application des Ponts et Chaussées where he won a prize for mechanics. In 1803 he published the didactical book "Éléments de statistique". It was reprinted until 1877. He worked as a mathematics teacher at the Lycée Bonaparte (now the Lycée Condorcet). His "Mémoire sur la théorie générale de l'équilibre et du mouvement des systèmes" was published in 1806 after it was presented to the Institut de France. In 1808 he became Inspector General of National Education. From 1809 to 1811 he was also a professor at the École Polytechnique.

After the death of Joseph Louis Lagrange in 1813 he was elected to the Académie des sciences. After the Bourbon Restoration he lost part of his positions. He was a supporter of positivism, and he was suspected of liberal sympathies. After Charles X became King in 1824, he also lost his position as Inspector General of National Education. After 1830 his situation improved. He obtained several new positions, including that of astronomer at the Bureau des Longitudes. After the Empire was restored, he became a member of the Senate. In 1858 he became a member of the Royal Society. He died in 1859 in Paris.

Images

The grave of Louis Poinsot at Père Lachaise in Paris.
Picture by Androom (07 Nov 2024)