ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY. 



AUGUST, 1818. 



Article I. 



Biographical Sketch of Charles Augustin Coulomb.* 



CHARLES AUGUSTIN COULOMB was born at Angouleme, 

 on June 14, 1736, and was a member of a family that had been 

 distinguished for their public services in the town of Montpelier. 

 He came to Paris when very young - , and soon manifested a 

 decided taste for mathematics ; but various circumstances hav- 

 ing prevented him from pursuing this branch of science, he 

 embraced the profession of a military engineer. In this capa- 

 city he spent about nine years in the West Indies ; he prosecuted 

 his employment with much ardour, and had the active superin- 

 tendence of many important public works ; but from the 

 exertions which he made, together with the unhealthiness of the 

 climate, he experienced such unfavourable effects upon his con- 

 stitution, that it was necessary for him to return to Europe. 



From this time Coulomb devoted himself almost entirely to 

 philosophical pursuits, directing his attention principally to the 

 mechanical sciences, or employing himself in elucidating them 

 by mathematical reasoning. He presented to the Academy, 

 from time to time, memoirs on various topics connected with 

 practical mechanics ; soon after bis return from America, which 

 was in the year 1779, lie divided with Van Swinden the prize 

 proposed for the best construction of the manner's compass, and 

 two years afterwards had the prize awarded him for his paper on 

 the theory of simple machines. One of the most important 



» The facts in this biographical sketch are principally taken from the eloge by 

 M. Cuvier, Mem. Inst. 6. 



Vol. XII. N° II. F 



