1830-1903

Italian mathematician who developed the "Cremona transformations" for studying surfaces and singularities (places where curves are not amenable to solution, such as at points). Cremona's early attempts to lead an academic life were hampered by his role as a soldier in Italy's failed revolution against Austrian rule. He was awarded a teaching position following Northern Italy's independence in 1858. Cremona became a senator in the new Italian republic in 1879, effectively ending his mathematical career.