OP AETS AND SCIENCES. 337 



Jean Victor Poncelet was born at Metz, July 1, 1788, and died 

 in Paris. He was admitted to the Polytechnic Scliool in 1807, then to 

 "I'Ecole d' Application " of Metz, in 1810. He entered the corps of 

 engineers with the gi'ade of lieutenant in 1812 ; took part in the Rus- 

 sian campaign with the forces of Marshal Ney, and was made prisoner 

 at Krasmoe. Here he was subjected to many privations, by which his 

 health was much impaired. The result of the mathematical researches 

 that were made while he was a prisoner were published in the " Anuales 

 de Mathematique." 



At the fall of the empire, he returned to France, and was for fifteeri 

 years professor of mechanics at Metz. 



Before leaving his native city, he gave a gratuitous course of lectures 

 on applied geometry to the young workmen of the town. 



The very valuable papers on geometry that he addressed to the 

 Academy of Sciences were the cause of his appointment as a member 

 of that society in 1834. At about that time he left Metz, and went to 

 Paris, where he became professor in the " College de France." 



In 1845 he was appointed colonel of engineers, and in 1848 he was 

 general of brigade and commander in the Polytechnic School. 



At this time he was chosen, by the people of Metz, to represent them 

 in the Assembly. He there voted with the moderate democratic party. 



In 1851 he was president of the " Scientific Commission of the Lon- 

 don Exhibition," and in 1853 was enrolled in the Legion of Honor. 



By his works on hydraulics he has rendered great service to 

 industrial art. But it is especially as a mathematician that he held a 

 high rank ; for he was one of the most eminent rei^resentatives of that 

 school of geometry that may be called " I'Ecole de Monge," and which 

 had in its ranks Carnot, Servois, Chasles, Dupin, &c. 



His published works and scientific reports are numerous, and upon 

 a great variety of subjects, embracing many original investigations re- 

 sulting in new conclusions. These remain as monuments of his sreat 

 powers and high attainments. 



" He was a profound geometer, a skilful inventor, an eminent teacher, 

 a sagacious engineer, an original writer. He was a true man, rigor- 

 ously faithful to his duties, severe to himself, full of sympathy for the 

 weak and the oppressed, of tried loyalty and ardent patriotism. He 

 may have had rivals, he never had enemies or detractors." 



Dr. P. C. H. Louis was born April 14, 1787, in Champagne, at the 

 village of A'i (Marne). His father was a vine-growing proprietary 

 fiirmer. His mother was a woman of intelligence and energy. She 

 VOL. I. 43 



