Sophie Germain 1776-1831

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Great mathematician forced to assume the identity of a man

The Ecole Polytechnique, an academy of excellence for scientists and mathematicians, opened in Paris in 1794 but it was reserved exclusively for men. Sophie got hold of lecture notes, took the identity of a former student, M le Blanc and wrote answers to the problems printed for him. When her teacher demanded to meet this brilliant student she was unmasked. Taking the name of Le Blanc, she corresponded with the most famous mathematician of the age, the German, Carl Gauss. She made a profoundly important contribution to one of math's then unsolved conundrums, Fermat's Last Theorem. This would have forever been wrongly attributed to the mysterious Le Blanc, had it not been for Napoleon's invasion of Prussia. Fearing for Gauss' safety, she contacted a family friend who was one of Napoleon's commanders. When he told Gauss he owed his life to Mademoiselle Germain, he said he did not know her. The Institut de France set a prize competition, asking for a mathematical theory that would explain the elasticity of metal plates. Sophie was the only entrant, but her work did not win the award. Her third attempt in 1819 won her one kilogram of gold although she boycotted the award ceremony. Her work was built on by others but is the basis of all modern building construction. When the Eiffel Tower was built, the names of 72 'savants' were inscribed on plaques around the base. Sophie's name was not among them, even though the Tower could not have been constructed without her elasticity work. Her death certificate listed her not as scientist but as 'rentiere' (a woman of no profession).

Women Scientists

Sophie Germain 1776-1831

Great mathematician forced to assume the identity of a man

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