Cristóbal de Losada y Puga facts for kids

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga (born April 14, 1894 – died August 30, 1961) was an important Peruvian mathematician and mining engineer. He served as Peru's Minister of Education under President José Luis Bustamante y Rivero. He was also the Director of the National Library of Peru from 1948 until his death in 1961.

Early Life and Education

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga was born in New York, USA. His parents were Enrique Cristóbal de Losada Plissé and Amalia Natividad Puga y Puga. When he was just two years old, his father passed away in 1896. After this, his family moved back to Peru. They settled in Cajamarca, which was his mother's family home. Cristóbal completed his primary and secondary schooling there.

In 1913, he moved to Lima to continue his studies. He attended the National School of Engineers, which is now known as the National University of Engineering. In 1919, he earned his degree as a Mining Engineer. His first job was with the Corps of Mining Engineers, where he worked until 1923.

Advanced Studies in Mathematics

Cristóbal also studied at the Faculty of Sciences at the National University of San Marcos. In 1922, he received his bachelor's degree. The next year, in 1923, he earned his doctorate in mathematical sciences from the same university. His special project for this degree was a paper called "On rolling curves."

A Career in Teaching

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga spent much of his life teaching. He was a professor at several important institutions in Peru.

Teaching at Military and Public Universities

From 1920 to 1926, and again from 1931 to 1940, he taught at the Chorrillos Military School. There, he taught subjects like Arithmetic, Descriptive Geometry, and basic Mechanics.

At the Faculty of Sciences of San Marcos, he taught advanced math. From 1924 to 1926, he taught Differential and Integral Calculation. Later, from 1935 to 1939, he taught Probability and Mathematical Physics. He also taught at the National School of Engineers. From 1930 to 1931, he taught Rational Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Infinitesimal Calculation.

In 1924, he was invited to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Toronto, Canada. This was a big honor for him. In 1931, he became the president of the National Society of Industries.

Role at Pontifical Catholic University

In 1933, Cristóbal became a professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He taught there until 1953. His courses included Analytical Geometry, Infinitesimal Calculation, Mechanics, and Strength of Materials.

He also took on leadership roles at the university. He was the dean of the Faculty twice, first from 1939 to 1946, and again from 1948 to 1950. He also directed the Magazine of the Catholic University from 1938 to 1945. For a period, from 1941 to 1946, he even served as the prorector, which is like a vice-chancellor.

Public Service and Leadership

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga also held important positions in the Peruvian government and cultural institutions.

Minister of Education

President José Luis Bustamante y Rivero asked him to join his government. Cristóbal served as the Minister of Public Education. He held this important role from January 12 to October 30, 1947. In this position, he was in charge of the country's education system.

Director of the National Library

On July 12, 1948, he was appointed Director of the National Library of Peru. This was a very important job, and he stayed in this position until his death in 1961. During his time leading the library, he also directed the Fénix magazine, which was published by the library.

Memberships and Family Life

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga was a member of many important academic and scientific groups. He belonged to the National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Peru. He was also part of the Peruvian Association for the Progress of Science and the Peruvian Academy of Language.

Beyond Peru, he was a member of the Royal Academy of Physical and Natural Sciences of Madrid. He also joined the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society, the French Physical Society, and the American Mathematical Association of America.

He was married to María Luisa Marrou y Correa. Together, they had five children.

Key Publications

Cristóbal de Losada y Puga wrote several important books and papers during his career. Here are some of his notable works:

• Curso de Análisis matemático (Mathematical Analysis Course) – published in three volumes between 1945 and 1954.
• Las anomalías de la gravedad: su interpretación geológica, sus aplicaciones mineras (Gravity Anomalies: Geological Interpretation, Mining Applications) – first published in 1917 and expanded in 1920.
• Contribución a la teoría matemática de las clépsidras y de los filtros (Contribution to the Mathematical Theory of Clepsydras and Filters) – published in 1922.
• Sobre las curvas de rodadura (On Rolling Curves) – published in 1923.
• Mecánica racional (Rational Mechanics) – published in 1930.
• Curso de Cálculo Infinitesimal (Infinitesimal Calculus Course) – published in 1938.
• Teoría y técnica de la fotoelastisimetría (Theory and Technique of Photoelasticity) – published in 1941.
• Galileo – published in 1942.
• Copérnico – published in 1943.