J. H. Lambert Paintings

Johann Heinrich Lambert was a notable Swiss polymath who made significant contributions to a variety of fields including mathematics, physics, philosophy, and cartography. Born on August 26, 1728, in Mulhouse, Alsace, which was then a free city of the German-speaking Swiss Confederation and now is in France, Lambert was the son of a tailor and was largely self-educated. Despite his humble beginnings, his thirst for knowledge led him to become one of the most learned men of his time.

Lambert is perhaps best remembered for his work in mathematics, where he made pioneering contributions to trigonometry and the theory of irrational numbers. He provided the first rigorous proof that π (pi) is an irrational number, a landmark discovery in mathematics. His work in this field was so notable that one of the standard photometric units, the lambert, was named in his honor.

Aside from his achievements in mathematics, Lambert was also a respected figure in the world of physics, where he developed the theory of photometry, the study of the measurement of light. His 'Photometria' was one of the first systematic studies of the measurement of light and laid the foundation for this scientific discipline.

Lambert's intellectual curiosity also extended to philosophy and the theory of knowledge, where he developed his own ideas on empirical critical philosophy. He corresponded with some of the leading intellectuals of his time, including Immanuel Kant, who respected Lambert's philosophical writings.

In the realm of cartography, Lambert was responsible for the development of several map projections, including the Lambert conformal conic projection, which is still used in aeronautical charts today. This projection is particularly useful for mapping areas with a large east-west extent.

Johann Heinrich Lambert passed away on September 25, 1777, in Berlin, Prussia. His legacy as a polymath has been cemented by the wide range of disciplines he influenced during his lifetime. His contributions to science and mathematics in particular have ensured that he is still remembered and respected within these communities.