Gaspard Monge (1746 - 1818) was born in Beaune, France, and lived an interesting and varied life during times of the French Revolution and Napoleon's rise to power.
Monge's Early Life
Gaspard was one of three sons of a simple peddler. Like many people with great mathematical ability, his genius was evident at an early age. He was always winning prizes at school and was even appointed physics professor at a small college in Lyons at the age of sixteen!
Some time later he went to a military school, where he shocked his superior officers by solving problems without the need for difficult arithmetic. His methods of solving geometry problems became official secrets, since they changed difficult problems into easy ones.
Marriage and Career
In 1777, Gaspard married a young widow, Madame Horbon who was to strongly support him throughout his life. Gaspard was not one of the mathematician types who devoted most of their energies to mathematics; he used much of his talent in the service of his government. Monge organized examinations for men who wished to become Navy officers, and many times was threatened by rich people whose sons had failed the examinations.
This was the time of the French Revolution, and the revolutionaries believed that Gaspard could help them. Thus he became a member of the Ministry of the Navy and the Colonies. For Monge this was not a good idea, since public officials were often victims of the guillotine. However, he was to escape the executioner.
Monge Befriends Napoleon
Monge's abilities brought him to the attention of Napoleon and they were to become good friends, though he was more than twenty years older than Napoleon. In 1798, Napoleon attacked Alexandria and Monge was anxious to join in the attack. Napoleon would not allow it: after all, Gaspard was 52-years-old! Nevertheless, Gaspard left France but his boat was attacked - he defended courageously until Napoleon had to leave his main force to save his friend.
Napoleon and Monge returned to France and the story goes that Gaspard had worn the same clothes for the entire trip. Monge continued to be friends with Napoleon, making himself a political victim of Napoleon's enemies - the Bourbons.
Gaspard Monge the Mathematician
In the year 1818 Gaspard died of a stroke, having had all his honours taken way by the Bourbons. However, mathematicians will always remember Gaspard Monge as the inventor of Descriptive Geometry and also, the application of his analysis techniques of the theory of curvature.
Gaspard Monge was interred in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, in a mausoleum. A statue portraying him was erected in Beaune in 1849.
Sources:
- "The Story of Civilization: The Age of Napoleon", Vol 11, Will and Ariel Durant. World Library Inc, 1975.
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