The man who invented descriptive geometry

Abstract

Gaspard Monge is known as the father of modern descriptive and differential geometry. In 1764, he was engaged to draw a detailed plan of a fortification in his hometown, which was seen by an officer at the École Royale du Génie de Mézières. This plan was a success and his techniques were marked as a military secret for a long period of time. In 1780, he was elected to the Academy of Science and participated in the work of the Commission for Weights and Measures, that was in charge of moving the system from imperial to metric. In 1794, Monge helped setting up the École Centrale des Travaux Publics (later École Polytechnique) where he was lecturing Descriptive Geometry. In 1798, Napoleon undertook a campaign in Egypt. The famous chemist Claude Louis Berthollet was asked to recruit prominent scientists. Among them were Fourier, Monge, Dolomieu and Malus. Institut d'Egypte was established by Napoleon and Monge was named as its first president. Monge passed away on July 28, 1818. His name is inscribed on the base of the Eiffel Tower and it is located on the third façade opposite the Military Academy. Besides descriptive geometry, he carried on many different researches in chemistry and physics.

Keywords

• gaspard monge
• descriptive geometry
• napoléon bonaparte
• claude louis berthollet
• egypt
• beaune
• école polytechnique