Biographical index of quoted persons:
Alembert, Jean le Rond d’, b. 16-11-1717 (Paris) - d.17-5-1783 (Paris). Mathematician and philosopher. 1741 Associate member Paris Academy,1746 Elected member of Berlin Academy, 1764 elected member of the St. Petersburg Academy.
Algarotti, Francesco count, b. 11-12-1712 (Venice) - d. 3-3-1764 (Pisa). Physician, chamberlain to Frederick II; 1747-1754. Member of honor Berlin Academy.
Anna Ioannovna, b.28-1-1693 (Moscow) - d. 17-10-1740 (Petersburg). Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740.
Argens, Jean Baptiste de Boyer, marquis d’, b. 14-6-1704 (Aix-en -Provence) - d. 11-1-1771 (Toulon). Philosopher and chamberlain to Frederick II; 1744 Ordinary member and 1744-1771 director of the History and philology class of the Berlin Academy.
August Wilhelm, prince of Prussia, b. 9-8-1722 - d. 12-6-1758. Brother of Frederick II and father of the Prussian king Frederick-Wilhelm II.
Balbi, Johann Friedrich, b. 1715 - d. 1779 Prussian engineer.
Bernoulli, Daniel, b. 9-2-1700 d. 17-3-1782. Dr. of medicine, physics, mechanics and mathematician, son of Johann 1 Bernoulli; 1725-1733 ordinary member and honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy; 1733 professor of anatomy, botany, physics and physiology at Basel; 1746 foreign member Berlin Academy ; 1748 associate foreign member of the Paris academy; 1750 Fellow of the Royal Society.
Blumentrost, Laurentius, b. 1692 - d. 1755. Doctor of medicine. 1st president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Science until 1733
Boerhaave, Herman, 1668 - 1738. Doctor of medicine, 1718 professor of chemistry in Leiden; 1731. Foreign member Paris Academy of Science.
Brandes, Karl, Philipp, 1720 - 1776. Doctor of medicine and chemist. 1755 Foreign member followed by Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Braun, Joseph Adam, 1712 - 1768. Physics, meteorologist and professor of philosophy; 1748 Ordinary member of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Cardano, Girolamo, 1501 - 1576. Doctor of medicine, mathematician, philosopher and astronomer.
Catherine II, 1729 - 1796. Empress of Russia from 1762.
Catt, Henri Alexandre de, 1725 - 1795. Lecturer and counselor to the King of Prussia; 1760 Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Clairaut, Alexis-Claude, 1713 - 1765. Mathematician, mechanics and astronomy; 1731 Adjunct member of the Paris Academy of Sciences, 1733 Associate. 1744 Foreign member Berlin Academy of Sciences, 1754, Foreign member St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. 1736 participant of the geodesic expedition to Lapland.
Condorcet, Antoine Caritat, marquis de, 1743-1794. French mathematician, philosopher, economist. Wrote during the Terror, Sketch of an historical portrait on the progress of the human spirit. with the Eloges for the Academicians from 1666-1790 constitutes his most important works. Condorcet’s very strong scientific convictions led him to believe that human kind was capable of infinite progress.
Delisle, Nicolas-Joseph, 1688 - 1768. Astronomer; 1716 Adjunct member of Paris Academy of Sciences, 1721, 1726-1747 Ordinary member; 1718-1725 and 1747-1761 Professor of mathematics Royal College.
Descartes, Rene, 1596 - 1650. Philosopher, mathematician and physics. French.
Dohna, Count Albrecht Christoph, 1698 - 1752. 1744 Honorary member Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Du Chatelet, Gabrielle le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise, 1706-1749. Woman of letters, mathematician and amateur physicist, translator of Newton’s "Principia".
Elizabeth of Russia, 1709-1761, Empress of Russia from 1741.
Euler, Johann Albrecht, 1734-1800, elder son of Leonhard Euler, mathematician and physicist, meteorologist and astronomer; 1754 ordinary member Berlin Academy of Sciences, 1766 Foreign member; 1766 Ordinary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Euler, Karl, 1740-1790, son of L. Euler, doctor of medicine in Berlin and after 1766 in St. Petersburg.
Fermat, Pierre de, 1601-1665, Counselor to the Toulouse parlement, mathematician.
Fontenelle, Bernard le Bovier de, 1657-1757, Mathematician and philosopher 1697 permanent secretary of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
Formey, Jean Henri Samuel, 1711-1797, Theologian, historian and writer, professor of philosophy at the Royal College of Berlin. 1744 ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. 1746 Adjunct secretary, 1748-1797 permanent secretary; 1748 Foreign member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Fourier, Joseph, 1768-1830, Physicist-mathematician, professor at the Ecole Polytechnic; 1816 Member of the Paris Academy of Science, 1822 Permanent secretary
Frederick II, 1712-1786. King of Prussia from 1740. 1776 Honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy.
Gleditsch, Johann Gottlieb, 1714-1786 Doctor of medicine and director of the Botanical Gardens of Berlin; 1740 Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy.
Gmelin, Johann Georg, 1709-1755 Doctor of medicine 1727 Member adjunct of the St. Petersburg Academy of Science 1731 professor of chemistry and natural history; 1747 professor at Tubingen. He participated in Tubingen’s second expedition to Kamtchatka.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832 Writer and German naturalist; 1806 Foreign member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Goldbach, Christian, 1690-1764. Amateur mathematician 1725 Ordinary member St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. . 1725-1728 and 1734-1742 Conference secretary. 1742 Honorary minister and Counselor of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gravesande [s’Gravesande] Willem Jacob, 1688-1742. Philosopher and mathematician; 1717 professor of mathematics and astronomy and 1`734 philosophy at Leyden.
Gregory, James, 1638-1675. Mathematician and astronomer.
Grischow, Augustin Nathaniel, 1726-1760. Astronomer and mathematician; 1749 Reciprocating member Paris Academy of Sciences. 1749-1750 Ordinary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, 1751-1754 Conference secretary.
Haller, Albrecht von, 1708-1777. Professor of medicine, anatomy, botany and surgery at Gottingen, first president of the Gottingen Academy of Sciences. 1739 Fellow of the Royal Society, 1749 Foreign member of Berlin Academy of Sciences, 1754 Foreign associate of the Paris Academy of Sciences; 1760 Foreign member of the Turin Academy of Sciences; 1776 Foreign member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Halley, Edmund, 1656-1743. Mathematician and astronomer; 1685 Fellow of the Royal Society; 1704 Professor of geometry Oxford University; 1720 Astronomer royal and director of the Greenwich observatory; 1729 Foreign associate of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
Haude, Ambrosius, 1690-1748. Book seller and editor in Berlin, an associate of J.C. Spener.
Hedlinger, Johann Karl, 1691-1771. Medallion engraver and director of the Currency and Chamberlain in Stockholm.
Heinsius, Gottfried, 1709-1769. Professor of astronomy and geographer. Ordinary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences from 1736-1744, then professor at Leipzig, 1745 Foreign member of the St. Petersburg Academy.
Helvetius, Claude Adrien, 1715-1771. Philosopher and encyclopaedist; 1764 Foreign member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Henri [Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig], prince of Prussia, 1726-1802. Third son of Frederick-William 1st; brother of Frederick II, officer and strategist of the Prussian army who had an illustrious career during the Seven Years’ War.
Hermann, Jacob, 1769-1833. Mathematician and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences from 1725-1731 and Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences 1807
Huygens, Christiaan, 1629-1695. Mathematician, astronomer and physician; 1663 fellow of the Royal Society; 1666 Member of the Paris Academy of Sciences
Jariges, Phillipe Joseph de, 1700-1745. Curator of universities and private counselor to Frederick II.
Justi, Johann Heinrich Gottlob von, 1720-1771. Specialist in political economy and political science; lawyer in Sangenhausen, Thuringia; In 1747 was awarded the Berlin Academy prize on the Monades; 1751-1753 professor at the Theresianum in Vienna; 1766-1768 at the service of Frederick II.
Kantemir, prince Antioch Dimitrievic, 1708-1744. Poet and diplomat, 1723 Russian ambassador to London and 1738 to Paris.
Keith, Jacob, 1696-1758. Scottish officer serving the Russian army in 1728 and then in the Prussian army in 1747; General-Feldmarschall and governor of Berlin, intimate friend of Frederick II.
Keyserling, Herman Karl, 1697-1765. Russian Statesman and diplomat, intimate friend of Frederick II; 1733 president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Science; 1747 Foreign member of the Berlin Academy of Science.
Kies, Johann, 1713-1781. Astronomer and Mathematics professor at Tubingen; 1742 Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Science, 1754 Foreign member; 1760 Foreign member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Science.
Koehler, David. Financial responsible for the Berlin Academy of Science, first commissioner.
Koenig, Johann Samuel, 1712-1757. Philosopher, mathematician and physician. Professor at the military institute of The Hague; 1739 corresponding member of the Paris Academy of Science, 1749-1752, Foreign member of the Berlin Academy of science.
Kotelnikov, Semion Kirilovic, 1723-1806. Adjunct member then Ordinary member 1757 and professor of mathematics. St. Petersburg Academy of Science.
Krafft, Georg Wolfgang, 1701-1754. Mathematician and physicist, Ordinary member St. Petersburg Academy; 1744 Professor at Tubingen and Foreign member of St. Petersburg; 1745 Foreign member Berlin Academy of Science.
Kratzenstein, Christian Gottlieb, 1723-1795. 1748-1753 Professor of mechanics and Ordinary member of the St. Petersburg Academy and professor of physics and medicine at Copenhagen.
Krueger, Johann Gottlob, 1715-1759. Professor of medicine and natural history at Halle and Helinstedt. 1746 Foreign member of St. Petersburg Academy.
Kurella, Ernest Gotthard. Chemist and in-law of J. H. Pott.
La Condamine, Charles Marie de, 1701-1774. Mathematician, geodesic specialist and naturalist 1748 Fellow of the Royal Society, 1754 Foreign member St. Petersburg Academy.
Lagrange, Joseph Louis, 1736-1813. Mathematician 1756 Foreign member Berlin Academy of Science; 1757 Founder of the Turin Academy of Science.
La Mettrie, Julien Offray de, 1709-1751. Doctor of medice and philosopher, lecturer to Frederick II. 1748 Ordinary member of the Berlin Academy of Science.
Lange, Johann Joachim, 1699-1765. Professor of physics at Halle.
Laplace, Pierre Simon, Marquis de, 1749-1827. Geometer, astronomer and physicist. 1766 Foreign member Turin Science Academy; 1773 Member Paris Academy, 1789 Fellow of the Royal Society. 1802 Foreign member St. Petersburg Academy.
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, 1646-1716. Philosopher, mathematician, historian and Statesman; 1673 FRS; 1699 F.M. St. P. Ac. Sc.; 1700 O.M. and first president of the Berlin A.S. (that is to say (Kurfuerstlich-Branderburgische Societat der Wissenschaften)
L’Hopital, Guillaume Francois Antoine, Marquis de, 1661-1704. Mathematician. 1693 M.O. Ac. Sc. Paris.
Lieberkuhn, Johann Nathaniel, 1711-1756. Doctor of medicine, anatomist, and physicist; 1734 M.O. Bln. Ac. SC.
Louis XV, 1710-1774. King of France from 1715-1774.
MacLaurin, Colin, 1698-1746. Scottish mathematician, 1717 professor at Aberdeen and 1725 in Edinburgh; 1719 FRS.
Malebranche, Nicholas, 1638-1715. Philosopher and orator. Honorary member P.Ac. Sc. and first president named by Louis XIV.
Mardefeld, Axel, 1691-1748. Prussian minister of state.
Marggraf, Andreas Sigismund, 1709-1782. Chemist O.M. Bln. Ac. Sc.1760-1782 director of the physics class; 1776 F.M. St. P. Ac. Sc.
Maupertuis, Pierre-Louis Moreau de, 1698-1759. French scientist and philosopher 1723 M. Paris Ac. Sc., 1728 FRS, 1738 F.M. St. Ac. Sc., 1746-1759 president Berlin Academy of Science.
Merian, Johann Bernhard, 1723-1807. Philosopher and professor of rhetoric at the University of Basel. Permanent secretary Berlin Ac. Sc.
Munnich, Christoph, count von Burkhardt, 1683-1767. Russian General Fieldmarshall, Statesman,; exiled to Siberia by Elizabeth 1st in 1742, returned by Peter III and named director of ports and canals.
Naude, David, 1720-1794. Astronomer at Berlin
Musschenbroeck, Petrus von, 1692-1761. Professor of mathematics at Utrecht; 1746 F.M. Berlin Ac. Sc.; 1754 F. M. St. P. Ac. Sc.
Newton, Issac, 1642-1727. Mathematician, physicist and astronomer; 1669-1696 Lucasian professor at Cambridge; 1672 FRS; 1703-1727 President of the R.S. 1699 Ass. F. M. Paris Ac. Sc.
Oechlitz, Christian Friedrich, Saxon mathematician , magister philosophae University of Leipzig from 1745.
Panin, Nikita Livanovic, 1718-1783. Russian General, Statesman and diplomat, minister of Catherine II. 1776 Honorary member St. P. Ac.
Pfaff, Christian Mathias, 1686-1760. Professor of theology University of Tubingen
Pott, Johann Heinrich, 1692-1777. Doctor of medicine and professor of chemistry at the Collegium medico-chirurgicum of Berlin; 1722 Ordinary member of St. P. Ac.
Razumovsky, count Kyril Grigorevitch von, 1728-1803. Russian statesman
1746-1798 president of the St. P. Ac. Sc.; 1748 F. M. Brln. Ac. Sc. 1750-1764 field-marshall, Ukrainian Cossack Hetman.
Reaumur, Rene Antoine Ferchault de, 1683-1757. Physicist and naturalist. 1708 student of the Paris Ac. Sc.; 1737 Foreign member of the St. P. Ac. 1738 FRS
Robins, Benjamin, 1707-1751. Mathematician and engineer. 1727 FRS.
Roccolini, Italian mathematician of 18th century.
Rumovsky, Stephan Jacovlevic, 1734-1812. 1763 Ordinary member St. P. Ac. Professor of astronomy.
Sack, August Friedrich Wilhelm, 1703-1786. O.M. Berlin Ac. Sc.
Schemettau, Samuel, Graf von, 1684-1751. Geographer and Generalfeldmarschall in Austrian then Prussian service; 1744-1751 Curator of the Berlin Ac. Sc.
Schumacher, Johann Daniel, 1690-1761. Librarian to peter the Great. 1725 Counselor to the Chancellery of the St. P. Ac. Sc.
Segner, Johann Andreas von, 1704-1777. Mathematician and physicist; Professor of natural science and mathematics at Gottingen then from 1755 at Halle; 1738 FRS; 1756 F.M. Berlin Ac. Sc.; 1754 F. M. St. P. Ac. Sc.
Sulzer, Johann Georg, 1720-1779. Professor of mathematics at Lycee Joachimsthal.
Suvaloff, Ivan Ivanovic, count 1727-1797. Russian statesman, first curator of the University of Moscow. 1776 H. M. St. P. Ac.Sc.
Teplov, Grigorij Nicolaevic, 1717-1779. Botanist and writer, Russian senator 1742 O.M. St. P. Ac. 1743-1746 Assessor of the Chancellery.
Turgot, Anne, Robert, Jacques, baron de l’Aulne, 1727-1781. Royal Inspector of Limoges and then comptroller of Finance under Louis XVI. He wished to undertake substantial reforms inspired by the Physiocrates. He eliminated internal custom duties and wanted to establish free trade for commerce and industry.
Van Loen, Johann Michael, 1694-1776. Historian and theologian, cousin to Euler’s wife.
Viereck, Adam Otto von, 1684-1758. 1744-1747 Curator of the Berlin Ac. Sc.
Voltaire, Francois Marie Arouet, 1694-1778. Writer. M. de Academie Francaise; 1743 FRS; 1746 H. M. St. P. Ac. Sc.
Wallis, John, 1616-1703. Mathematician professor of geometry, Oxford; 1663 FRS.
Weitbrecht, Josias, 1702-1747. Professor of physiology 1731, M. St. Ac. Sc.
Wolff, baron Christian von, 1679-1754. Privy counselor, mathematician and philosopher 1706-1723 and after professor of mathematics and physics at Halle. 1723-1740 professor. of philosophy at Marburg; 1710 FRS; 1711 F. M. Berlin Ac. Sc., 1725 M. Ac. Sc. St. P.
Ximenes, Leonardo, 1716-1786. Jesuit geometer, astronomer and hydraulics; 1757 Corresponding m. Paris Ac. Sc.
Zieten, Hans Joachim von, 1699-1786. Prussian Feldmarschall creator of the Hussards of Zieten, Major-general in 1744, distinguished himself at the Battle of Leuthen 1757.
