1871-1956

French Mathematician

Though he is noted for his work on complex numbers and functions, Emile Borel in fact wrote, researched, and taught on a variety of subjects. His Space and Time (1922), for instance, helped make Albert Einstein's theory of relativity comprehensible to non-technically educated readers, and his work extended far beyond the world of mathematics. As an influential figure in French politics, he helped direct that country's policy toward scientific and mathematical research and education.

Borel was born the son of Honoré, a pastor, and Emilie Teissié-Solier Borel, in the French town of Saint-Affrique on January 7, 1871. His was a world heavily influenced by the recent humiliation of the Franco-Prussian War, and on a personal level, Borel, as the younger brother of two sisters, had to fight to distinguish himself.

Distinction came early, however, with...