François Jacquier
Encyclopedia
François Jacquier was a French
Franciscan
mathematician and physicist
.
. With the permission of his superiors he specialized in mathematics, and at the same time studied the ancient languages. He became proficient in Hebrew, and spoke Greek as though it were his mother-tongue.
His learning gained for him the patronage of Cardinal Alberoni and Cardinal Portocarrero. He accompanied Cardinal Alberoni on his legation to Ravenna
, and was appointed to inspect the work begun by Manfredi to prevent the repeated innudations of that territory. On his return he was given the chair of Sacred Scripture at the College of the Propaganda, and was also detailed by the general chapter of the Friars Minors, assembled at Marseilles, to work upon the annals of the order.
The King of Sardinia named him professor of physics at the University of Turin
in 1745, but Cardinal Valenti, prime minister of Pope Benedict XIV
had him assigned to the chair of experimental physics at the Roman College. Here he was in demand for consultation on scientific matters.
In 1763 he was appointed instructor in physics and mathematics to the young Prince Ferdinand at Parma. He was appointed in 1773 to the chair of mathematics at the Roman College, on the occasion of the suppression of the Jesuits
. At his death he was connected with nearly all the great scientific and literary societies of Europe.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
mathematician and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
Life
His early education was entrusted to an ecclesiastic, who recognized in him an inclination to science and mathematics. When sixteen years old, Francois, entered the Order of Friars Minor, and after profession was sent to Rome, to complete his studies in the French convent of the order, Trinità dei MontiTrinità dei Monti
The church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti is a late Renaissance titular church in Rome, central Italy. It is best known for its commanding position above the Spanish Steps which lead down to the Piazza di Spagna...
. With the permission of his superiors he specialized in mathematics, and at the same time studied the ancient languages. He became proficient in Hebrew, and spoke Greek as though it were his mother-tongue.
His learning gained for him the patronage of Cardinal Alberoni and Cardinal Portocarrero. He accompanied Cardinal Alberoni on his legation to Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, and was appointed to inspect the work begun by Manfredi to prevent the repeated innudations of that territory. On his return he was given the chair of Sacred Scripture at the College of the Propaganda, and was also detailed by the general chapter of the Friars Minors, assembled at Marseilles, to work upon the annals of the order.
The King of Sardinia named him professor of physics at the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
in 1745, but Cardinal Valenti, prime minister of Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
had him assigned to the chair of experimental physics at the Roman College. Here he was in demand for consultation on scientific matters.
In 1763 he was appointed instructor in physics and mathematics to the young Prince Ferdinand at Parma. He was appointed in 1773 to the chair of mathematics at the Roman College, on the occasion of the suppression of the Jesuits
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
. At his death he was connected with nearly all the great scientific and literary societies of Europe.
Works
The most important of his works are:- Isaaci Newtoni philosophiæ naturalis principia mathematica, perpetuis commentariis illustrata (4 parts in 3 vols. 4to, Feneva, 1739-42), in collaboration with P. Lesuer;
- Parere e riflessioni sopra I danni della cuppola di San-Pietro (4to, Rome, 1743);
- Elementi di perspecttiva secondo I princpi di Taylor (8 vo, Rome, 1745);
- Institutiones Philosophicæ ad studia theologica potissimum accommodata (6 vols. in 12 mo, Rome, 1757), reprinted many times at Rome, Venice, and in Germany, and later translated into Spanish;
- Eléments du calcul intégral (4to, Parma, 1768), a work highly esteemed and more complete than any that had been published up to that time.
External links
- Jean-Christophe Stuccilli, "Un inédit romain de Laurent Pécheux : le portrait du père François Jacquier", Studiolo, 8 - 2010, p. 185-194.
- Source