Étienne Bobillier facts for kids

Étienne Bobillier (born April 17, 1798 – died March 22, 1840) was a smart French mathematician. He made important discoveries in the world of numbers and shapes.

Early Life and Education

Étienne Bobillier was born in a town called Lons-le-Saunier in France. When he was 19 years old, he got into a very famous school. This school was called the École Polytechnique. It was a special place for very talented students.

He studied there for about a year. However, he had to leave because he didn't have enough money.

Teaching Career

In 1818, Étienne became a math teacher. He started working at the École des Arts et Métiers in Châlons-sur-Marne. This was a school where students learned practical skills.

Later, in 1829, he moved to Angers. There, he became the director of studies. This meant he was in charge of how students learned. The next year, he even served in the National Guard. This was during a time of big changes in France in 1830.

In 1832, he returned to Châlons. His job in Angers had ended. Back in Châlons, he was promoted to a full professor. This was a big step up in his career.

Health and Legacy

Étienne Bobillier started having health problems in 1836. Even though he was sick, he kept teaching. He didn't want to take time off to get better. Sadly, he died in Châlons when he was only 41 years old. This was a very young age for such a brilliant mind.

He is remembered for his work in geometry. Geometry is the study of shapes, sizes, and positions. He found new ways to use algebra to understand geometric surfaces. He also studied how things stay balanced, which is called statics. He even worked on the "catenary," which is the special curve a hanging chain makes.

A crater on the Moon is named after him. This shows how important his work was.

His Books

Étienne Bobillier also wrote books about mathematics. These books helped others learn about his ideas.

• Cours de géométrie, published in 1849
• Principes d'algèbre, published in 1865