Pierre-Simon LaPlace: biography

• Laplace was born March 23, 1749 in Beaumont-en-Auge, Normandy, France.
  
• At the age of sixteen, he was sent to the University of Caen to study theology.
• It was here that Pierre Simon developed his interest in mathematics due to the mentoring of two teachers.
  
• When he was only 19, he moved to Paris, without finishing his degree, to work as a professor of mathematics at the École Militaire with the fellow mathematician Jean-le-Rond D’Alembert. 
• In 1773 Laplace communicated the first of many memoirs to the Academy of Sciences in Paris.  In this memoir he treated two subjects: particular solutions of differential equations and the mean motions of the planets.
• Five years later, Laplace had already written 13 scientific papers regarding integral calculus, mechanics and physical astronomy, which gained him fame all over France.

• Laplace worked  on physical problems such as heat, the theory of vapors, and electrostatics.
  
• He made the first advance toward the understanding of molecular forces in liquids.
• In acoustics, he suggested that the excess of the speed of sound over that expected could be explained in terms of the heat changes induced by the vibrations.
  
• Dynamical astronomy and the theory of probability, however, were Laplace's major interests. 
• He advocated the application of probability theory not only in science but also to social and economic problems.
• His nebular hypothesis first popularized in 1796, explained how the Solar System evolved without the need for divine intervention.
• Laplace suggested that the nature of the universe is completely deterministic (events are bound by causality).
• In 1799 he was given a  seat in the senate and became its vice president and chancellor in 1803.
  
• He was elected to the French Academy in 1816.
•  In the same year he presided over the commission charged to reorganize the école Polytechnique.
  
• Although he encouraged able young mathematicians and scientists among his pupils, Laplace was not a successful teacher.
  
• He died in Paris on March 5, 1827, leaving a wife and a son.