The doctoral thesis submitted by Désiré André on 25 March 1877 focused on series developments of elliptic functions and their powers. A French mathematician active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, he contributed foundational work to the study of Catalan numbers and alternating permutations, leaving a legacy within the French mathematical community of his era.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born in Lyon in 1840, Désiré André pursued advanced studies at the École Normale Supérieure, entering the institution in 1860. He successfully passed the Agrégation in mathematics in 1863. His formative training included study under Charles Hermite and Joseph Bertrand. His professional journey began as a teacher at the Lycée de Troyes, followed by a position at the Collège Sainte-Barbe and a tenure at the University of Dijon. From 1885 until 1900, he served as a professor of mathematics at the Collège Stanislas de Paris.
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André is recognized for his research into permutations, specifically his 1881 work on alternating permutations and his 1895 memoir on quasi-alternating permutations. Beyond his research papers published in the Journal de mathématiques pures et appliquées, he authored L'Arithmétique des écoles primaires in 1888. In 1909, he expanded his scholarly output with Des notations mathématiques, énumération, choix et usage, a text dedicated to the usage and selection of mathematical notation.
Institutional Engagement and Recognition
Throughout his career, André held various administrative and academic roles. He served as an instructor at the Catholic University of Paris and held the presidency of the Société philomathique de Paris. Within the Société Mathématique de France, he acted as treasurer from 1873 to 1876 and later served as president in 1900 and 1903. His contributions earned him the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1897 and the Poncelet Prize in 1904. He was also a member of the Circolo Matematico di Palermo.
Fast facts
- Born: 1840, Lyon
- Died: 1917, Paris
- Education: École Normale Supérieure
- Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1897), Poncelet Prize (1904)
- Professional roles: University teacher, mathematician
- Key associations: Société Mathématique de France, Circolo Matematico di Palermo
- Final resting place: Montparnasse Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What were the primary mathematical interests of Désiré André?
He is best known for his work on alternating permutations and Catalan numbers.
Where did Désiré André hold teaching positions?
He taught at the Lycée de Troyes, Collège Sainte-Barbe, the University of Dijon, the Collège Stanislas de Paris, and the Catholic University of Paris.
Achievements
- Poncelet Prize — 1904
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1897
- Held posts at Catholic University of Paris
