Science · 1768–1830
Born: 21 March 1768 · Died: 16 May 1830 · Age at death: 62
Joseph Fourier died aged 62. He was born on 21 March 1768 and died on 16 May 1830.
French mathematician who showed that complex waves can be broken into simple sine waves and discovered the greenhouse effect
Did you know?He is credited with being the first person to describe the greenhouse effect after realising the atmosphere helps keep the planet warm.
Joseph Fourier showed that complex waves can be built from simple ones. The son of a tailor, he was orphaned young. He was nearly guillotined during the French Revolution. He joined Napoleon's expedition to Egypt and later governed part of France. His study of heat flow led to Fourier series and transforms. These tools are now used in almost every branch of science. He was also one of the first to describe the greenhouse effect.
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier (French:; 21 March 1768 – 16 May 1830) was a French mathematician and physicist born in Auxerre, Burgundy and best known for initiating the investigation of Fourier series, which eventually developed into Fourier analysis and harmonic analysis, and their applications to problems of heat…
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Profile
French mathematician, 1768–1830
Joseph Fourier was born in Auxerre on 21 March 1768.
He joined Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1798.
He was prefect of the Isère department.
His Analytical Theory of Heat appeared in 1822.
Career highlights
Did you know?His name is one of the 72 engraved on the Eiffel Tower.
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