A Comet of the Enlightenment Anders Johan Lexell's Life and Discoveries [Paperback]

The Finnish mathematician and astronomer Anders Johan Lexell (17401784) was a long-time close collaborator as well as the academic successor of Leonhard Euler at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. Lexell was initially invited by Euler from his native town of Abo (Turku) in Finland to Saint Petersburg to assist in the mathematical processing of the astronomical data of the forthcoming transit of Venus of 1769. A few years later he became an ordinary member of the Academy. This is the first-ever full-length biography devoted to Lexell and his prolific scientific output. His rich correspondence especially from his grand tour to Germany, France and England reveals him as a lucid observer of the intellectual landscape of enlightened Europe. In the skies, a comet, a minor planet and a crater on the Moon named after Lexell also perpetuate his memory.This full-length biography of Finnish mathematician and astronomer Anders Johan Lexell (17401784) reveals him as a lucid observer of the intellectual landscape of enlightened Europe. It examines his life as well as his prolific scientific output.1 Setting the scene.- 2 The humble beginnings.- 3 New prospects in Saint Petersburg.- 4 Formation of an Academician.- 5 Professor of astronomy.- 6 Professional relations and correspondence.- 7 Academic events in Saint Petersburg.- 8 Lexells work in mathematics.- 9 Academic Journey 17801781.- 10 Return to an Academy in crisis.- 12 A sketch of Lexells personality.- 13 Conclusion.- 14 Appendices.

St?ns biography is a sound beginning to the critical study in English of the Euler circle and the internal operation and accomplishments in the mathematical sciences of the Petersburg Imperial Academy from 1766 to beyond 1784, based on vital correspondence and using its Protocols (Minutes) and Commentaries and Acta (Journals), significant sources in the history of mathematics, the early modern mathematical sciences, and the northern Enlightenment. (Ronald Calingel³ƒ