Origins & Early Life

Abraham de Moivre (French pronunciation: [abʁaam də mwavʁ]; 26 May 1667 – 27 November 1754) was a French mathematician known for de Moivre's formula, a formula that links complex numbers and trigonometry, and for his work on the normal distribution and probability theory. He moved to England at a young age due to the religious persecution of Huguenots in France which reached a climax in 1685 with the Edict of Fontainebleau. He was a friend of Isaac Newton, Edmond Halley, and James Stirling. Among his fellow Huguenot exiles in England, he was a colleague of the editor and translator Pierre des Maizeaux.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

De Moivre wrote a book on probability theory, The Doctrine of Chances, said to have been prized by gamblers. De Moivre first discovered Binet's formula, the closed-form expression for Fibonacci numbers linking the nth power of the golden ratio φ to the nth Fibonacci number. He also was the first to postulate the central limit theorem, a cornerstone of probability theory, of which he proved a special case. Abraham de Moivre was born in Vitry-le-François in Champagne on 26 May 1667. His father, Daniel de Moivre, was a surgeon who believed in the value of education...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Francesco Borromini — Contemporary (Died in 1667) (1667): Master of Roman Baroque architecture, known for inventive geometry and dramatic forms.
• Johann Bernoulli — Contemporary (Born in 1667) (1667): Swiss mathematician known for calculus and educating Leonhard Euler.
• Jonathan Swift — Contemporary (Born in 1667) (1667): Master satirist and cleric whose works defined Georgian literary wit.
• George Crabbe — Contemporary (Born in 1754) (1754): English poet and clergyman, celebrated for realistic depictions of working-class life.
• Henry Fielding — Contemporary (Died in 1754) (1754): Satirical novelist and playwright, credited with founding the English novel.
• Henry Pelham — Contemporary (Died in 1754) (1754): Whig statesman and Prime Minister of Great Britain (1743-1754)
• Alan Bean — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Alberto Ascari — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (1955): Iconic Italian racing driver, two-time Formula One World Champion for Ferrari.
• Ada Lovelace — Shared historical date (11-27 · Died) (1852): Pioneering mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer.
• Alexander Dubček — Shared historical date (11-27 · Born) (1921): Slovak statesman known for leading the Prague Spring and advocating 'Socialism with a human face'.
• 1667 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1667
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• 1754 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1754
• November 27 (11-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 27