Minkowski, H. (Hermann), 1864-1909

German mathematician (mathematical physics). Affiliations: University of Königsberg, Ph. D. 1885; University of Bonn, 1885-1894; University of Königsberg 1894-1896; ETH Zürich 1896-1902; University of Göttingen, o. professor 1902-1909.

Minkowski was born on June 22, 1864 of German parents in Alexotas, Russia; was the joint winner of the Paris Academy of Sciences Grand Prix des Sciences Mathématiques in 1883; attended University of Berlin and University of Königsberg, where he received his doctorate in 1885; he taught at Bonn until 1894, then returned to Königsberg for two years; taught at Zurich from 1896-1902, and then at Göttingen, where he taught until his death; developed what he called the "geometry of numbers;" worked in mathematical physics the last years of his life, when he participated in the movement of ideas that led to the theory of relativity; publications include Geometrie der Zahlen (1896), Diophantische approximationen (1907), and Gesammelte abhandlungen (1911); he died on Jan. 12, 1909 in Göttingen, Germany.

Mathematician (geometry of numbers, quadratic forms). On mathematics faculty of Universität Bonn, 1885-1894; Universität Zürich, 1896-1902; and Universität Göttingen, 1902-1909.

Biography

Minkowski was born on June 22, 1864 of German parents in Alexotas, Russia; was the joint winner of the Paris Academy of Sciences Grand Prix des Sciences Mathématiques in 1883; attended University of Berlin and University of Königsberg, where he received his doctorate in 1885; he taught at Bonn until 1894, then returned to Königsberg for two years; taught at Zurich from 1896-1902, and then at Göttingen, where he taught until his death; developed what he called the “geometry of numbers”; worked in mathematical physics the last years of his life, when he participated in the movement of ideas that led to the theory of relativity; publications include Geometrie der Zahlen (1896), Diophantische approximationen (1907), and Gesammelte abhandlungen (1911); he died on January 12, 1909 in Göttingen, Germany.