Évariste Galois

Évariste Galois (1811-1832), French mathematician, best known for his development of group theory (see Group). Galois was born in the Paris suburb of Bourg-la-Reine and was educated at home. He was twice rejected for admission to the École Polytechnique, the leading school of French mathematics, and three papers he submitted to the Academy of Sciences were lost or rejected as incomprehensible. He then turned to political activism and was arrested and imprisoned for his outspoken republican convictions. Shortly before his death at the age of 21 he hastily wrote down some of his algebraic theories. With the publication of his manuscripts in 1846 and 1870, Galois's reputation as a mathematical giant became widely recognized. Several of his constructs, now termed Galois group, Galois field, and Galois theory, remain fundamental concepts in modern algebra.