Christiaan Huygens was born on 14 April 1629 in The Hague, into a rich and influential Dutch family, the second son of Constantijn Huygens. source
Christiaan Huygens was born on 14 April 1629 in The Hague, into a rich and influential Dutch family, the second son of Constantijn Huygens.
Christiaan Huygens was a mathematician, physicist and astronomer who formulated the wave theory of light. source
Christiaan Huygens was a mathematician, physicist and astronomer who formulated the wave theory of light.
Christiaan Huygens is credited as the first theoretical physicist to use formulae in physics. source
Christiaan Huygens is credited as the first theoretical physicist to use formulae in physics.
Christiaan Huygens published major studies of mechanics and optics, and pioneered work on games of chance. source
Christiaan Huygens published major studies of mechanics and optics, and pioneered work on games of chance.
Christiaan Huygens was educated at home until turning sixteen years old. He liked to play with miniatures of mills and other machines. source
Christiaan Huygens was educated at home until turning sixteen years old. He liked to play with miniatures of mills and other machines.
Christiaan Huygens studied languages and music, history and geography, mathematics, logic and rhetoric, but also dancing, fencing and horse riding. source
Christiaan Huygens studied languages and music, history and geography, mathematics, logic and rhetoric, but also dancing, fencing and horse riding.
His father sent Christiaan Huygens to study law and mathematics at the University of Leiden, where he studied from May 1645 to March 1647. source
His father sent Christiaan Huygens to study law and mathematics at the University of Leiden, where he studied from May 1645 to March 1647.
After two years, from March 1647, Christiaan Huygens continued his studies at the newly founded College of Orange, in Breda, where his father was a curator. source
After two years, from March 1647, Christiaan Huygens continued his studies at the newly founded College of Orange, in Breda, where his father was a curator.
Christiaan Huygens lived at the home of the jurist Johann Henryk Dauber, and had mathematics classes with the English lecturer John Pell. He completed his studies in August 1649. source
Christiaan Huygens lived at the home of the jurist Johann Henryk Dauber, and had mathematics classes with the English lecturer John Pell. He completed his studies in August 1649.
Christiaan Huygens was often slow to publish his results and discoveries. In the early days his mentor Frans van Schooten was cautious for the sake of his reputation. source
Christiaan Huygens was often slow to publish his results and discoveries. In the early days his mentor Frans van Schooten was cautious for the sake of his reputation.
The first work Christiaan Huygens put in print was Theoremata de quadratura (1651) in the field of quadrature. source
The first work Christiaan Huygens put in print was Theoremata de quadratura (1651) in the field of quadrature.
Christiaan Huygens studied spherical lenses from a theoretical point of view in 1652–3, obtaining results that remained unpublished until Isaac Barrow (1669). His aim was to understand telescopes. source
Christiaan Huygens studied spherical lenses from a theoretical point of view in 1652–3, obtaining results that remained unpublished until Isaac Barrow (1669). His aim was to understand telescopes.
Christiaan Huygens wrote the first treatise on probability theory, De ratiociniis in ludo aleae ("On Reasoning in Games of Chance", 1657). source
Christiaan Huygens wrote the first treatise on probability theory, De ratiociniis in ludo aleae ("On Reasoning in Games of Chance", 1657).
On 3 May 1661, Christiaan Huygens observed the planet Mercury transit over the Sun, using the telescope of instrument maker Richard Reeve in London, together with astronomer Thomas Streete and Reeve. source
On 3 May 1661, Christiaan Huygens observed the planet Mercury transit over the Sun, using the telescope of instrument maker Richard Reeve in London, together with astronomer Thomas Streete and Reeve.
Christiaan Huygens moved back to The Hague in 1681 after suffering serious depressive illness. source
Christiaan Huygens moved back to The Hague in 1681 after suffering serious depressive illness.
In 1684, Christiaan Huygens published Astroscopia Compendiaria on his new tubeless aerial telescope. source
In 1684, Christiaan Huygens published Astroscopia Compendiaria on his new tubeless aerial telescope.
He died in The Hague on 8 July 1695, and was buried in the Grote Kerk. Christiaan Huygens never married. source
He died in The Hague on 8 July 1695, and was buried in the Grote Kerk. Christiaan Huygens never married.
