Fourier, JEAN BAPTISTE JOSEPH, BARON DE

Fourier, JEAN BAPTISTE JOSEPH, BARON DE, French mathematician, was born at Auxerre, 21st March 1768. He became a pupil, and in 1789 a professor, in the military school of his native place; was afterwards removed to the normal school in Paris, and then to the Polytechnic, and accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt in 1798. On his return to France he became a contributor to the Description de l'Égypte, and also wrote the historical introduction. At the same time (1802) he was made prefect of the department of Grenoble, an office which he held till 1815, and was created baron in 1808. After Napoleon's escape from Elba Fourier took up his abode in Paris, and devoted himself exclusively to science, becoming a member of the Academy of Sciences in 1816, and afterwards secretary for life, conjointly with Cuvier. He died at Paris, 16th May 1830. His most famous work is the Théorie Analytique de la Chaleur (Paris, 1822), in which he applied new methods of mathematical investigation. An allied subject is discussed in his treatise on the temperature of the globe (1827). His analysis of Determinants, distinguished both for its substance and manner of exposition, and left unfinished at his death, was completed and published by Navier (Paris, 1831).