Charles Hermite
A brilliant French analyst who solved a puzzle centuries old by proving that the fundamental number 'e' could not be tamed by algebra.
1822–1901 (age 79)·French mathematician·Birthday: December 24
Biography
Charles Hermite's mind operated in the rarefied air of pure mathematics, where he pursued problems of profound abstraction with elegant tenacity. Despite a physical disability and an initial struggle with formal exams, his self-directed study led to breakthroughs that reshaped modern analysis. His most famous triumph came in 1873 when he demonstrated the transcendence of the number 'e,' the base of natural logarithms. This meant 'e' could not be the root of any non-zero polynomial equation with rational coefficients, settling a question that had lingered since the number's discovery. Hermite's work extended deeply into number theory, quadratic forms, and the theory of elliptic functions, where his methods paved the way for later giants like Ferdinand von Lindemann, who used Hermite's techniques to prove the transcendence of π. A generous correspondent and teacher, he counted Henri Poincaré among his students. Hermite championed the work of the then-obscure Evariste Galois, helping to bring group theory into the mainstream. His career was a testament to deep, intuitive thought, proving that some of mathematics' most important constants exist beyond the realm of simple equations.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1822
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1822Born
1827Started school
1835Became a teenager
1838Could drive
1840Could vote
1843Turned 21
1852Turned 30
1862Turned 40
President: Abraham Lincoln
1872Turned 50
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1882Turned 60
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Turned 70
President: Benjamin Harrison
1901Died at 79
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
Key Achievements
- First proved the transcendence of the mathematical constant 'e' in 1873, a landmark in number theory.
- Pioneered the theory of Hermitian forms, a concept fundamental to modern physics and matrix theory.
- Made significant advances in the theory of elliptic and modular functions, influencing later work on Fermat's Last Theorem.
- Was a pivotal figure in introducing and promoting the revolutionary algebraic ideas of Evariste Galois.
Did You Know?
He had a congenital defect in his right foot that left him with a lifelong limp.
Despite his later fame, he failed his first examination at the École Polytechnique because he found the curriculum too restrictive.
He was a passionate letter writer, maintaining extensive correspondences with mathematicians across Europe.
The Hermite polynomials, Hermite interpolation, and the Hermite normal form in linear algebra are all named for him.
“There exists, if I am not mistaken, an entire world which is the totality of mathematical truths, to which we have access only with our mind, just as a world of physical reality exists, the one like the other independent of ourselves, both of divine creation.”
