Origins & Early Life

Marie Ennemond Camille Jordan (French: [ʒɔʁdɑ̃]; 5 January 1838 – 22 January 1922) was a French mathematician, known both for his foundational work in group theory and for his textbook Cours d'analyse de l'École polytechnique. Jordan was born in Lyon and educated at the École polytechnique. He was an engineer by profession; later in life he taught at the École polytechnique and the Collège de France, where he had a reputation for eccentric choices of notation. He is remembered now by name in a number of results: The Jordan curve theorem, a topological result required in complex analysis The Jordan normal form and the Jordan matrix in linear algebra In mathematical analysis, Jordan measure (or Jordan content) is an area measure that predates measure theory In group theory, the Jordan–Hölder theorem on composition series is a basic result.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Jordan's theorem on finite linear groups Jordan's work did much to bring Galois theory into the mainstream. He also investigated the Mathieu groups, the first examples of sporadic groups. His Traité des substitutions, on permutation groups, was published in 1870; this treatise won for Jordan the 1870 prix Poncelet. He was an Invited...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Angelo Mariani (chemist) — Contemporary (Born in 1838) (1838): French pharmacy technician and entrepreneur, famous for inventing Vin Mariani.
• Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam — Contemporary (Born in 1838) (1838): French symbolist writer known for his evocative and decadent literary style.
• Bankim Chandra Chatterjee — Contemporary (Born in 1838) (1838): Pioneering Bengali novelist, poet, and journalist, celebrated as the 'Emperor of Literature'.
• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Agostinho Neto — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Angolan communist revolutionary, poet, and first President of Angola.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Aldrich Ames — Shared historical date (01-05 · Died) (2026): American CIA analyst and notorious Soviet spy convicted of espionage.
• Alfred Brendel — Shared historical date (01-05 · Born) (1931): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Alf Ramsey — Shared historical date (01-22 · Born) (1920): Legendary English footballer and manager, best known for the 1966 World Cup victory.
• Antonio Gramsci — Shared historical date (01-22 · Born) (1891): Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.
• 1838 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1838
• January 5 (01-05) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 5
• 1922 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1922
• January 22 (01-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 22