Charles Étienne Louis Camus facts for kids
Charles Étienne Louis Camus (born August 25, 1699 – died February 2, 1768) was a very smart French mathematician and engineer. He was born in a town called Crécy-en-Brie, which is near Meaux.
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Who Was Charles Étienne Louis Camus?
Early Life and Education
After leaving the Collège de Navarre in Paris, Charles Étienne Louis Camus studied many important subjects. He learned about mathematics, which is the study of numbers and shapes. He also studied architecture, which is how buildings and other structures are designed. Plus, he learned about astronomy, which is the study of stars, planets, and space.
A Career in Science and Engineering
Camus became a professor of architecture in 1730. A few years later, in 1733, he joined the important Académie des Sciences as an associate. This was a big honor for scientists in France. He also taught geometry, which is a part of mathematics dealing with shapes and sizes. He became a secretary for the Academy of Architecture and a fellow of the Royal Society of London, which is another famous group of scientists.
In 1727, Camus wrote a special paper for the academy about how to build the masts of ships. Because of this work, he was named a joint engineer for the academy that same year.
Measuring the Earth
One of his most exciting adventures happened in 1736. Camus joined two other famous scientists, Pierre Louis Maupertuis and Alexis Clairaut, on a special trip. They went to Lapland, a cold region in the far north. Their mission was to measure a part of the Earth's curve, called a meridian arc. This helped scientists understand the exact shape of our planet.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1760, Camus became the permanent secretary of the Academy of Architecture. This meant he was in charge of many important things for the academy. He also worked on various public projects, helping to build things for the public good. In 1765, he was chosen again to be a fellow of the Royal Society of London. Charles Étienne Louis Camus passed away in 1768, leaving behind a legacy of important work in mathematics and engineering.
Camus's Important Books
Charles Étienne Louis Camus wrote several important books and essays about mathematics and mechanics. His most famous work was a book called Cours de mathématique (which means "Course of Mathematics"). It was published in three parts between 1749 and 1752.
- Traité des forces mouvantes ("Treatise of Moving Forces"); 1722. This book was about how forces make things move.
- Opérations faites pour mesurer le degré de méridienne entre Paris et Amiens; 1757. This book described the measurements he made to understand the Earth's shape between Paris and Amiens.
- Cours de mathématique ("Course of Mathematics"); 3 parts, 1749–52. This was a complete course on mathematics.
- Part 1: Élémens d'arithmétique (1749). This part taught about basic numbers and calculations.
- Part 2: Élémens de géométrie, théorique et pratique (1750). This part covered geometry, both in theory and how to use it in real life.
- Part 3: Élémens de méchanique statique (1751–52). This part was about how things stay balanced and don't move, which is called statics.
