Gauss, Carl Friedrich (1777–1855)

German mathematician who worked on the theory of numbers, non-Euclidean geometry, and the mathematical development of electric and magnetic theory. A method of neutralizing a magnetic field, used to protect ships from magnetic mines, is called ‘degaussing’.

In statistics, the normal distribution curve, which he studied, is sometimes known as the Gaussian distribution. Between 1800 and 1810 Gauss concentrated on astronomy. He developed a quick method for calculating an asteroid's orbit from only three observations and published this work – a classic in astronomy – 1809.

Gauss was born in Brunswick and studied there at the Collegium Carolinum, and at Göttingen and Helmstedt. By 1799 he had already made nearly all his fundamental mathematical discoveries. He spent most of his career at Göttingen, becoming professor of mathematics and director of the observatory. Gauss was also a pioneer in topology, and he worked besides on crystallography, optics, mechanics, and capillarity. After 1831, he collaborated with physicist Wilhelm Weber on research into electricity and magnetism, and in 1833 they invented an electromagnetic telegraph. Disquisitiones arithmeticae 1801 summed up Gauss's work in number theory and formulated concepts and questions that are still relevant today.