(February 8, 1700 – March 17, 1782)

Daniel was a member of the renowned Bernoulli family, which entrenched a unique “Mathematical Dynasty” that spanned 17th and 18th centuries. He is alongside his uncle (Jakob), father (Johann) and brother (Nikolaus), the most prominent genius of that Swiss family. He was also a friend of Leonhard Euler (another Swiss who is widely regarded as the greatest of all the mathematicians). Although Daniel excelled in mathematics, his father insisted that he study biology. That was the reason why he earned his PhD in anatomy and botany. But as soon as he became independent from his dad, he settled for mathematics (which came naturally to the Bernoullis). After pioneering works in statistics, he turned to mathematical physics where he made inaugural discoveries in fluid dynamics. His acclaimed Bernoulli Principle (including his Bernoulli’s Equation), was first presented in the Hydrodynamica disquisition he published in 1738. Refined and meticulous, Daniel won Grand Prix of the Paris Science Academy 10 times (between 1725 and 1749) for solutions spanning across oceanography, magnetism, waves, optics and astronomy. His further research centered on thermodynamics, kinetic theory, resonance and wave propagation. As early proponent of mathematical physics, Daniel Bernoulli explored and reviewed many areas of applied maths: making far-reaching contributions. For instance, one of his monographs, Exercitationes quaedam Mathematicae, was about using differential equations to tackle various problems in fluid mechanics. And 50 years after his Hydrodynamica, Joseph-Louis Lagrange emulated its pattern (as a model) for his elegant masterpiece: Mécanique Analytique. Daniel Bernoulli’s name endures in vast scientific concepts and theorems.

 

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26 Comments

  1. The life stories and works of Bernoulli family are still a mystery to me. Just can’t get my head around that. What an outstanding family!

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