Évariste Galois
Years:
Title: Tragic Genius
Évariste Galois
Born: 1811
Died: 1832
Title: Tragic Genius
The Comet-Like Falling Genius
Galois was the most tragic and romantic figure in mathematical history. He died at age 20 in a duel—some say for love, others say it was a political conspiracy.
His life was short, tragic, and brilliant. He was rejected by the École Polytechnique twice, had papers lost by careless reviewers, and died in a duel at age 21. But in the night before his death, he wrote down the foundations of group theory—one of the most important branches of modern mathematics.
Core Contributions - Deep Analysis
Group Theory: The Language of Symmetry
Galois invented group theory to solve a problem that had puzzled mathematicians for centuries: Can equations of degree 5 and above be solved by radicals?
The answer is no—and Galois proved it using group theory. But more importantly, he created a new mathematical language for understanding symmetry.
The Galois Correspondence
Galois discovered a deep connection between:
- Field extensions (solutions of equations)
- Groups (symmetries of those solutions)
This correspondence is now fundamental to algebra, number theory, and geometry.
The Legendary Night
On the last night before the duel, knowing he might die the next day, Galois wrote frantically through the night, recording all his mathematical thoughts. In the margins of his manuscript, he wrote desperately: "I have no time (Je n'ai pas le temps)."
These dozens of pages later became the foundation of modern abstract algebra. He wrote to a friend: "I have made some new discoveries in analysis... I hope someone will find it profitable to sort out this mess."
That "mess" became the foundation of modern algebra.
Why He Fought
The duel was likely over a woman, but Galois's life was marked by political turmoil. He was a passionate republican who spent time in prison for his political activities. His mathematical genius was often overshadowed by his political radicalism.
Legacy
Galois's work, though barely understood in his lifetime, revolutionized mathematics:
- Algebra: Group theory is now central to abstract algebra
- Number Theory: Galois theory connects algebra and number theory
- Geometry: Symmetry groups describe geometric structures
- Physics: Group theory is essential in particle physics and quantum mechanics
His tragic story reminds us that mathematical genius can emerge in the most unexpected places and times.