WhiZ Hearts-BLAISE PASCAL

BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662)

WhiZ Hearts-Estimated IQ>195

Pascal was a child prodigy, who was educated by his father. He was a mathematician of the first order. At 16 he wrote the Essai pour les coniques which was published in 1640. In 1642 he invented a calculating machine to help his father, who served as Royal Tax Commissioner at Rouen. Pascal is often credited with the discovery of the mathematical theory of probability and he also made serious contributions to number theory and geometry.

1623-	June 19, born in Claremont the son of Etienne Pascal a minor noble and government official.
1626-	Mother dies.
1631-	Etienne moves to Paris and directs his children's education based on the pedagogy of Montaigne. Blaise proves to be exceptional at mathematics.
1638-	Etienne goes into hiding after opposing a fiscal measure of Richelieu but leaves the children in Paris.
1639-	Blaise's sister, Jacqueline, appears in a play before Richelieu after which he not only pardons Etienne but appoints him tax collector at Rouen.
1642-	Blaise begins to work on his calculating machine to assist his father in the computation of taxes.
1646-	Etienne is injured and is cared for by two Jansenists who convert the family to this strict form of Christianity.
1647-	Visits by Descartes and discussion on atmospheric pressure and the function of the barometer.
1648-	Pascal returns to Claremont. Writes treatise on conic sections.
1650-	Returns to Paris.
1651-	Etienne dies and Jacqueline joins the convent at Port-Royal.
1654-	November 23, a two-hour ecstatic vision leads to his conversion. The account of this vision is kept in the lining of his coat at all times.
1655-	January 7, takes a retreat to Port-Royal where he defends Arnauld against the Jesuits who sought to expell him.
1656-	Appearance of the first of the Provicial Letters.
1658-	Lectures on his apologetics to the leaders of Port-Royal.
1659-	Comes down with the illness that will lead to his death. Works in brief periods of relief from suffering.
1661-	Jacqueline dies. Port-Royal closed after official condemnation of Jansenism.
1662-	August 17, Blaise Pascal dies in the house of one of his sisters.
1670-	Publication of his Thoughts which he had worked on sporadically the last four years of his life.