Pierre de Fermat 1601 - 1665

1601. Born in Beaumont, France on august 20th, the son of a prosperous leather merchant and second consul of Beaumont. His mother was an aristocrat.

c1620. Studied to become a lawyer, possibly at the University of Toulouse.

1631. Received Bachelor of Civil Law degree from the University of Orleans. Appointed 'Commissioner of Requests' to local parliament of Toulouse. Married Louise de Long on June 1st by whom he had 3 sons and 2 daughters who later became nuns.

1638. Promoted to Conseiller aux enquêtes.

1642. Entered the criminal court and the Grand Chamber.

1648. Promoted to 'Kings Councillorship.' Acted as chief spokesman of the parliament in negotiations with Chancellor Sèquier.

1652. Almost died from bubonic plague.

1665. Died January 12th at Castres, France.

Mathematics

• Considerable work in the theory of numbers, including the famous eponymous Last Theorem.
• Founded probability theory with Blaise Pascal.
• Important work using analysis and infinitesimals in geometry.

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Mathematical Biographies
Jeremy Dittmer
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