Johann II Bernoulli

Johann II Bernoulli (also known as Jean; 18 May 1710 in Basel – 17 July 1790 in Basel) was the youngest of the three sons of the Swiss mathematician Johann Bernoulli.

He studied law and mathematics, and, after travelling in France, was for five years professor of eloquence in the university of his native city. In 1736 he was awarded the prize of the French Academy for his suggestive studies of aether. On the death of his father he succeeded him as professor of mathematics in the University of Basel. He was thrice a successful competitor for the prizes of the Academy of Sciences of Paris. His prize subjects were the capstan, the propagation of light, and the magnet. He enjoyed the friendship of P. L. M. de Maupertuis, who died under his roof while on his way to Berlin. He himself died in 1790. His two sons, Johann and Jakob, are the last noted mathematicians of the Bernoulli family.

Biography

Johann II Bernoulli was born on 18 May 1710 in Basel, the youngest son of Johann Bernoulli. He received private tuition from his father before reading jurisprudence at the University of Basel, graduating in 1729, and then undertook study tours in France and Switzerland to deepen his mathematical education.