The name of Michel Chasles is one of the 72 identities inscribed on the Eiffel Tower, marking his status as a major figure in French mathematics. Born in Épernon in 1793, he dedicated his professional life to geometry, projective geometry, and harmonic analysis, serving as a significant university teacher and historian of mathematics throughout the nineteenth century.
Academic Foundations and Service
Chasles attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand before entering the École polytechnique between 1812 and 1814. His early life was marked by the War of the Sixth Coalition, during which he was drafted to assist in the defense of Paris in 1814. He eventually transitioned away from potential roles in engineering or stockbroking to focus on academic pursuits. He later held teaching positions at the École polytechnique from 1841 to 1851 and served as a professor at the University of Paris from 1846 until 1880.
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His 1837 publication, Aperçu historique sur l'origine et le développement des méthodes en géométrie, examined the method of reciprocal polars in projective geometry. He is credited with several theorems grouped under the title Chasles's theorem. In kinematics, his work described Euclidean motion in space as a screw displacement, providing a foundation for the dynamics of rigid bodies. He also addressed Steiner's conic problem, applying a theory of characteristics to calculate that there are 3264 conics tangent to five given conics.
Institutional Recognition
Chasles held leadership roles within the scientific community, including presiding over the French Academy of Sciences in 1860 and the Mathematical Society of France in 1873. He maintained membership in various international bodies, including the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, and the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. His honors included the Copley Medal in 1865, a fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the title of Commander of the Legion of Honour.
Acquisition of Forged Documents
Between 1861 and 1869, Chasles acquired a collection of 27,000 forged letters from Denis Vrain-Lucas. The documents included fabricated correspondence allegedly written by historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, and Mary Magdalene. Despite his rigor in mathematics, these items were later identified as sophisticated forgeries written in fake medieval French.
Fast facts
- Born: 1793, Épernon, France
- Died: 1880, Paris, France
- Education: École polytechnique (1812-1814)
- Copley Medal: 1865
- Commander of the Legion of Honour: 1866
- President of the French Academy of Sciences: 1860
Questions readers ask
What is Chasles's theorem?
The name refers to several important mathematical theorems established by him, most notably in the fields of geometry and kinematics regarding screw displacement.
Where is Michel Chasles buried?
He is buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery and Saint Chéron Cemetery.
Achievements
- Copley Medal — 1865
- Notable work: Chasles' theorem
- Notable work: Aperçu historique sur l'origine et le développement des méthodes en géométrie
- Held posts at University of Paris and École polytechnique
- Fields: geometry, projective geometry and harmonic analysis
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