Editing Christian Goldbach

{{short description|German mathematician (1690–1764)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Christian Goldbach
| birth_date = 18 March 1690
| birth_place = [[Königsberg]], [[Brandenburg-Prussia]]
| death_date = {{death-date and age|20 November 1764|18 March 1690}}
| death_place = [[Moscow]], [[Russian Empire]]
| residence = 
| citizenship = Russia
| nationality = [[Prussia]]n
| ethnicity = 
| field = [[Mathematics]] and [[Law]]
| work_institutions = 
| alma_mater = 
| doctoral_advisor = 
| doctoral_students = 
| known_for = [[Goldbach's conjecture]]<br>[[Goldbach–Euler theorem|Goldbach's theorem]]<br>[[Goldbach's weak conjecture]]
| influences = 
| influenced = 
| signature = [[File:Letter Goldbach-Euler signature.svg|120px]]
}}
'''Christian Goldbach''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|oʊ|l|d|b|ɑː|k}} {{respell|GOHLD|bahk}}, {{IPA|de|ˈkʁɪsti̯a(ː)n ˈɡɔltbax|lang}}; 18 March 1690 &ndash; 20 November 1764) was a Prussian [[mathematician]] connected with some important research mainly in [[number theory]]; he also studied [[law]] and took an interest in and a role in the Russian court.<ref name="element" /><ref name=":3" /> After traveling around Europe in his early life, he landed in Russia in 1725 as a professor at the newly founded [[Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences]].<ref name=":4" /> Goldbach jointly led the academy in 1737.<ref name="eb" /> However, he relinquished duties in the academy in 1742 and worked in the Russian [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] until his death in 1764.<ref name="eb" /> He is remembered today for [[Goldbach's conjecture]] and the [[Goldbach–Euler theorem|Goldbach–Euler Theorem]].<ref name="element" /> He had a close friendship with famous mathematician [[Leonhard Euler]], serving as inspiration for Euler's mathematical pursuits.<ref name=":3" />

==Biography==

=== Early life ===
Born in the [[Duchy of Prussia]]'s capital [[Königsberg]], part of [[Brandenburg-Prussia]], Goldbach was the son of a pastor.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Christian Goldbach - Biography |url=https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Goldbach/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Maths History |language=en}}</ref> He studied at the [[University of Königsberg|Royal Albertus University]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Aliprandini |first=Michael |date=2017-01-08 |title=Christian Goldbach |url=http://access.library.miami.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=20912957&site=ehost-live |journal=Great Tech Publishing |pages=1–2 |via=EBSCO}}</ref> After finishing his studies he went on long educational trips from 1710 to 1724 through Europe, visiting other German states, England, the Netherlands, Italy, and France, meeting with many famous mathematicians, such as [[Gottfried Leibniz]], [[Leonhard Euler]], and [[Nicholas I Bernoulli]]. These acquaintances started Goldbach's interest in mathematics.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Haas |first=Robert |date=2014-02-01 |title=Goldbach, Hurwitz, and the Infinitude of Primes: Weaving a Proof across the Centuries* |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00283-013-9402-8 |journal=The Mathematical Intelligencer |language=en |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=54–60 |doi=10.1007/s00283-013-9402-8 |s2cid=253817631 |issn=1866-7414}}</ref> He briefly attended [[Oxford University]] in 1713 and, while he was there, Goldbach studied mathematics with [[John Wallis]] and [[Isaac Newton]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Calinger |first=Ronald C |title=Leonhard Euler: Mathematical Genius in the Enlightenment |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0691119274 |pages=50–51, 66–80, 328–345}}</ref> Also, Goldbach's travels fostered his interest in philology, archaeology, metaphysics, ballistics, and medicine.<ref name=":2" /> Between 1717 and 1724, Goldbach published his first few papers which, while minor, credited his mathematical ability. Back in Königsberg, he became acquainted with [[Georg Bernhard Bilfinger]] and [[Jakob Hermann]].<ref name=":3" />

=== Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences ===
[[File:Russian Academy of Sciences SPB.jpg|thumb|Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences building called Kunstkammer dating back to 1728]]
Goldbach followed Bilfinger and Hermann to the newly opened St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1725.<ref name="eb">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Christian Goldbach |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/237446/Christian-Goldbach |access-date=26 October 2014 |date=16 August 2013}}</ref> [[Christian Wolff (philosopher)|Christian Wolff]] had invited and had written recommendations for all the Germans who traveled to Saint Petersburg for the academy except Goldbach.<ref name=":4" /> Goldbach wrote to the president-designate of the academy, petitioning for a position in the academy, using his past publications and knowledge in medicine and law as qualifications.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eb" /> Goldbach was then hired to a five-year contract as a professor of mathematics and historian of the academy.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="eb" /> As historian of the academy, he recorded each academy meeting from the opening of the school in 1725 until January 1728.<ref name="eb" /> Goldbach worked with famous mathematicians like [[Leonhard Euler]], [[Daniel Bernoulli]], [[Johann Bernoulli]], and [[Jean le Rond d'Alembert]].<ref name=":1" /> Goldbach also played a part in Euler's decision to academically pursue mathematics instead of medicine, cementing mathematics as the premier research field of the academy in the 1730s.<ref name=":4" />

=== Russian government work ===
In 1728, when [[Peter II of Russia|Peter II]] became [[Tsar]] of Russia, Goldbach became Peter II and [[Anna of Russia|Anna]]'s, Peter II's cousin, tutor.<ref name="eb" /> Peter II moved the Russian court from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1729, so Goldbach followed him to Moscow.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="eb" /> Goldbach started a correspondence with [[Leonhard Euler|Euler]] in 1729, in which some of Goldbach's most important mathematics contributions can be found.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> Upon [[Peter II of Russia|Peter II]]'s death in 1730, Goldbach stopped teaching but continued to assist [[Anna of Russia|Empress Anna]].<ref name="eb" /> In 1732, Goldbach returned to the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences and stayed in the Russian government when Anna moved the court back to St. Petersburg.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="eb" /> Upon return to the academy, Goldbach was named corresponding secretary.<ref name=":4" /> With Goldbach's return, his friend Euler continued his teaching and research at the academy as well.<ref name=":4" /> Then, in 1737, Goldbach and J.D. Schumacher took over the administration of the academy.<ref name="eb" /> Also, Goldbach took on duty in Russian court under Empress Anna.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="eb" /> He managed to retain his influence in court after the death of Anna and the rule of [[Elizabeth of Russia|Empress Elizabeth]].<ref name=":3" /> In 1742 he entered the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], stepping away from the academy once more.<ref name="eb" /> Goldbach was gifted land and increased salary for his good work and rise in the Russian government.<ref name=":3" /> In 1760, Goldbach created new guidelines for the education of the royal children which would remain in place for 100 years.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="eb" /> He died on 20 November 1764, aged 74, in [[Moscow]].

Christian Goldbach was [[multilingualism|multilingual]] – he wrote a diary in [[German language|German]] and [[Latin language|Latin]], his letters were written in German, Latin, [[French language|French]], and [[Italian language|Italian]] and for official documents he used Russian, German and Latin.<ref>Adolf Juskevic, Judith Kopelevic: Christian Goldbach 1690-1764 (Vita Mathematica), Birkhäuser Publishing House, 1994, {{ISBN|3764326786}}, pg. XII.</ref>

==Contributions==
[[File:Letter Goldbach-Euler.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Letter from Goldbach to [[Euler]], 1742]]
Goldbach is most noted for his correspondence with [[Leibniz]], [[Euler]], and [[Daniel Bernoulli|Bernoulli]], especially in his 1742 letter to Euler stating his [[Goldbach's conjecture]]. He also studied and proved some theorems on [[perfect power]]s, such as the [[Goldbach–Euler theorem]], and made several notable contributions to [[mathematical analysis|analysis]].<ref name="element">{{cite book |last=Rosen |first=Kenneth H. |title=Elementary Number Theory, Fifth Edition |publisher=Addison-Wesley |year=2004 |isbn=0-321-23707-2}}</ref> He also proved a [[Fermat number#Basic properties|result]] concerning [[Fermat number]]s that is called Goldbach's theorem.

=== Impact on Euler ===
It is Goldbach and Euler's correspondence that contains some of Goldbach's most important contributions to mathematics, specifically number theory.<ref name=":3" /> Goldbach and Euler's friendship survived Goldbach's move to Moscow in 1728 and communication ensued.<ref name=":4" /> Their correspondence spanned 196 letters over 35 years written in Latin, German, and French.<ref name=":2" /> These letters spanned a wide range of topics, including various mathematics topics.<ref name=":3" /> Goldbach was the leading influence on Euler's interest and work in number theory.<ref name=":4" /> Most of the letters discuss Euler's research in number theory as well as differential calculus.<ref name=":4" /> Until the late 1750s, Euler's correspondence on his number theory research was almost exclusively with Goldbach.<ref name=":4" />
[[File:Leonhard Euler - Jakob Emanuel Handmann (Kunstmuseum Basel).jpg|thumb|Portrait of Leonhard Euler, one of the premier mathematicians ever]]
Goldbach's earlier mathematical work and ideas in letters to Euler directly influenced some of Euler's work. In 1729, Euler solved two problems pertaining to sequences which had stumped Goldbach.<ref name=":4" /> Ensuingly, Euler outlined the solutions to Goldbach.<ref name=":4" /> Also, in 1729 Goldbach closely approximated the [[Basel problem]], which prompted Euler's interest and concurring breakthrough solution.<ref name=":4" /> Goldbach, through his letters, kept Euler focused on number theory in the 1730s by discussing [[Fermat's conjecture]] with Euler.<ref name=":4" /> Euler subsequently offered a proof to the conjecture, crediting Goldbach with introducing him to the subfield.<ref name=":4" /> Euler proceeded to write 560 writings, published posthumously in four volumes of [[Opera Omnia Leonhard Euler|Opera omnia]], with Goldbach's influence guiding some of the writings.<ref name=":4" /> Goldbach's famous conjecture and his writings with Euler prove him to be one of a handful of mathematicians who understood complex number theory in light of Fermat's revolutionary ideas on the topic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goldbach, Christian|work=Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography|volume=5|publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons|year=2008|pages=448–451|via=Gale In Context: U.S. History|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2830901675/UHIC?u=mlin_oweb&sid=bookmark-UHIC&xid=a018c1f5|access-date=2022-10-20 }}</ref>

== Works ==
* (1729) ''De transformatione serierum''
* (1732) ''De terminis generalibus serierum''

==See also==
*[[Goldbach's comet]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{MacTutor Biography|id=Goldbach}}
* [http://www.math.dartmouth.edu/~euler/correspondence/correspondents/Goldbach.html Electronic copies of Euler's correspondence with Goldbach]
* [http://lhldigital.lindahall.org/cdm/ref/collection/astro_atlas/id/379 ''Neuester Himmels-Atlas'', 1799] - Full digital facsimile, [[Linda Hall Library]].

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldbach, Christian}}
[[Category:1690 births]]
[[Category:1764 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Königsberg alumni]]
[[Category:Full members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:18th-century German mathematicians]]
[[Category:German number theorists]]
[[Category:Scientists from Königsberg]]
[[Category:People from the Duchy of Prussia]]
[[Category:Mathematicians from the Kingdom of Prussia]]