Leonhard Euler is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians to have ever walked on the planet. Euler, as he is popularly known was born on April 15, 1707 in Switzerland. He was not blind by birth but suffered from Visual impairment later in his life. Today, we will understand some of the important achievements from his life and things we need to inherit from this great mathematician.
Leonhard Euler was born to Paul Euler and Marguerite Brucker in Basel. His father was a pastor of the Reformed Church while his mother was the daughter of a pastor, thus Euler was raised in a rather religious environment. Euler had two sisters. From his very childhood, Euler’s father taught him Mathematics thus sowing the seeds of interest in his mind. His father’s friend was Johann Bernoulli, a prominent Mathematician and Bernoulli would greatly influence the young Leonhard Euler. Thus, Euler was raised in a religious and influencing environment and this helped him further in his life to a very large extent.
Euler, as I said, was not blind by birth but was born as a normal child. He could see as an any average human. Euler suffered a fatal fever in 1735 that nearly took him but he was saved. Unfortunately, he lost in it, his one eye and suffered an infection in his second. He spent last few years of life in complete blindness. He worked for most of his life with one eye. Euler died in 1783, at the age of 76 in St. Petersburg.
Euler is credited my many of his contemporaries. He gave some of the most important formulae in the field of pure mathematics. Richard Feynman (20th century American physicist) once said, “Our jewel ... one of the most remarkable, almost astounding, formulas in all of mathematics.” The formula was none other than Euler’s Identity formula as we know it today.
eiπ+1=0
Euler published many scientific journals, papers, articles and books. Some of the famous ones are ‘Institutiones calculi differentialis’ in 1755 and another one, ‘Institutiones calculi integralis’ during the period 1768–70. These textbooks served as a foundation for understanding concepts of modern calculus. Euler’s knowledge was not only limited to mathematics. He further went to study “The theory of Lunar Motion” which involved the study of motions of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon. He also showed great amount of interest in Physics where he researched on optics and acoustics. He went further ahead to prove Newton’s identities. Fluid Mechanics, one of the most important branch of modern day engineering heavily relies on Euler-Bernoulli’s formula.
What do we infer from the life of these great men ? Life is meant to be full of hurdles and obstacles. If not with these great men, the world would have been a deprived place. Helen Keler became the first deaf-blind person to secure a Bachelor’s degree in Arts. If it were not the studies of Louis Braille, we would have not got today the Braille System. These great people have taught us the Discipline of Life, this discipline we must inherit. We may not become a prolific mathematician like Leonhard Euler nor we are having great singing talents like Andrea Bocelli. What we have is the Mental Strength, we need to enhance it and imbibe in us the power to excel in our respective fields, no matter what it takes. Life is a platform, showcase your talents at the right place and at the right time. Be inspired and Inspire others.
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