Leonhard Euler: His life, the man, and his works

Abstract

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary (on April 15, 2007) of Euler’s birth, an attempt is made to bring Euler’s genius to the attention of a broad segment of the educated public. The three stations of his life—Basel, St. Petersburg, and Berlin— are sketched and the principal works identified in more or less chronological order. To convey a flavor of his work and its impact on modern science, a few of Euler’s memorable contributions are selected and discussed in more detail. Remarks on Euler’s personality, intellect, and craftsmanship round out the presentation.