Gregoire of Saint-Vincent

Gregoire of Saint-Vincent (September 8th 1584, Bruges, Belgium - January 27th 1667, Ghent) was a Jésuite, Mathématicien Géomètre of the Belgian, known school for its work of calculation of surface.

Studies and Formation

After having made its letters with the college of Bruges and its philosophy in Douai it entered to the Jesuits to Rome, in 1605. It there also finishes philosophy and studied mathematics under the direction of an other Jesuit, Clavius. In 1611, it assists with the presentation by Galileo sidereus nuncius with the Roman Collège. Of return to Leuwen for the study of the Theology (1612), it is ordered there priest in 1613.

Mathematician

After a beginning of career devoted to teach the letters (with Brussels, Wood-the-Duke, Courtrai), he becomes mathematics professor initially with Antwerp (where he created the special course of mathematics) of 1618 to 1620, period during which he will teach with Jean-Charles beyond Fault, then with Leuwen of 1621 to 1624. In 1625 it is destined for Rome by the Supérieur General of the Jesuits which, fearing its enthusiasm to be wanted to solve the problem of the quadrature of the circle invited it to discuss it with professors the Romain College (of which Christophe Grienberger). By 1626 to 1632, it accompanies the emperor Ferdinand II with Prague which it precipitately leaves at the time of the arrival of the Swedish army. It seems to be during some time, mathematics professor of Don Juan of Austria in Spain. Then one finds it with the college of Ghent where he teaches mathematics and manages the library until his death in 1667.

The Quadrature of the circle

Gregoire of Saint-Vincent is mainly interested in the calculation of surface. He is famous for his work on the Quadrature of the circle. In 1647, in its work Opus geometricum quadraturae circuli… of more than thousand pages, it announces to know at least four methods to solve the problem of the squaring of circle. Unfortunately, the error which it makes is shown of the finger by Huygens which thus discredits a work in addition notable. Indeed, in addition to the quadrature of the circle, Gregoire of Saint-Vincent was interested in other calculation of surface developing the method of old (Archimedes) which it renames Méthode of exhaustion. He seems to have discovered a method similar to that of the indivisible developed in addition by Cavalieri. He is the author of the first squaring of the hyperbole in which he highlights his behavior logarithmic curve:

“If the X-coordinates of a hyperbole équilatère grow in geometric progression, the surfaces of the surfaces cut out between the hyperbole and its asymptote by the corresponding ordered lines grow in arithmetic progression.”

Principal work

Opus geometricum quadraturae circuli and sectionum coni decem libris comprehensum , Antwerp, 1647.

Other publications

Cometis , 1616.
Theoremata mathematice scientiae staticae , 1624.
Opus geometricum AD mesolabum per rationum, proportionalitatumque novas proprietates , 1668.

Sources and references

ZIGGELAAR, A., François de Aguilon S.J. (1567-1617), Scientist and Architect , Rome, 1983.
Biography of Gregoire of Saint-Vincent, University of Saint Andrew
Biography in the site of Cosmovision
Gregoire of Saint-Vincent and architecture
publications of Jean Dhombres on Gregoire of Saint-Vincent
J.P. Legoff, Of the method known as of exhaustion: Gregoire of Saint-Vincent in the mathematical demonstration in the history , IREM of Besancon and IREM of Lyon

Internal bond

Mathematical in Europe at the XVIIe century

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