Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis created the least action principle, which he claimed, among other things, proved the existence of God. Something of a Renaissance man, he also participated in a famous scientific expedition to Lapland to measure the Earth, studied biology, and introduced his homeland to the principles of . A difficult and cantankerous character, Maupertuis was in later years the target of ridicule despite his many scientific accomplishments.

Maupertuis was born in St.-Malo, France on September 28, 1698. His doting mother is said to have spoiled him until he was unable to accept criticism of any sort and unwilling to do anything other than what he wanted. Maupertuis attended local private schools as a boy and at age 16 traveled to Paris for more advanced studies, although he mainly disliked the traditional classical classes he was offered. In 1717 he began studying music, but quickly found that he preferred mathematics...