Faustina Pignatelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faustina Pignatelli Carafa
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|---|---|
| Born | 9 December 1705 |
| Died | 30 December 1769 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Mathematician |
| Spouse(s) | Francesco Domenico Carafa |
Faustina Pignatelli Carafa, who was also known as the princess of Colubrano, was an Italian mathematician and scientist. She was born in Naples on December 9, 1705, and passed away on December 30, 1769.
In 1732, Faustina made history. She became only the second woman ever to be chosen for the Academy of Sciences of Bologna. The first woman to achieve this was Laura Bassi, a physicist from Bologna.
Contents
A Brilliant Mind and Her Education
Faustina Pignatelli Carafa was a very smart person. She studied mathematics and science. She learned alongside her brother, Peter. Their teacher was a famous scholar named Nicola De Martino.
Bringing New Ideas to Italy
Faustina played a big part in sharing new scientific ideas in Naples. She helped introduce the important theories of Isaac Newton to Italy. Newton was a famous English scientist. His ideas changed how people understood physics and gravity.
Faustina was also very active in scientific discussions across Italy. She even wrote letters to the French Academy of Sciences. This showed her importance in the world of science.
Her Published Work
In 1734, Faustina published a scientific paper. It was called Problemata Mathematica, which means "Mathematical Problems". She used a special name for it: "anonima napolitana". This Latin phrase means "anonymous female from Naples".
Her paper was published in a German science magazine. This magazine was called Nova Acta Eruditorum. All the articles in this journal were written in Latin.
Life as a Princess
In 1724, Faustina married a poet named Francesco Domenico Carafa. When they got married, her father gave her a special gift. It was a place called the principality Colubrano. This area is in southern Italy. A principality is a territory ruled by a prince or princess.
Recognized for Her Talent
Faustina's skills in mathematics were well-known. In 1745, a man named Francesco Maria Zanotti spoke about her. He was the secretary of the Academy of Sciences of Bologna. He said that Faustina was a very gifted mathematician.
