Blaise Pascal

From a very early age Pascal showed a talent in mathematics, publishing his first paper, on conic sections, in 1640. Pascal's father was a tax collector and to assist him in his practice Blaise invented in 1645 the first digital calculator -- similar to the machines in common use in the 1940's. Due to peculariaties in the denominations of French currency at the time, the machine was not a financial success although the design was sound.

Pascal made wide ranging contributions to many areas, always bringing to bear his considerable mathematical talent. His early researches in atmospheric pressure and vacuums were controversial but fundamental to the emerging science of physics. He wrote the first systematic treatise on hydrostatics and discovered fundamental theorems in projective geometry.

In a series of five letters with Pierre de Fermat he laid the foundation for the theory of probability. He solved a dice problem that had been raised by Cardano as well as laying the theoretical foundation for a new science.

Pascal was of ill health most of his life, finding great comfort in religion and by 1654 he pledged his life to Christianity. He joined a Jansenist monastary and published personal and highly controversial works on religious topics. This included Pensées, a philosophical tract on suffering and faith in God.

Pascal died at age 39 when a malignant growth in his stomach spread to his brain. Pascal has been honored on several postage stamps, included the one below from Monaco.

Born: 19 June 1623 in Clermont (now Clermont-Ferrand), Auvergne, France
Died: 19 Aug 1662 in Paris, France