Origins & Early Life

Jean-Pierre Serre (French: [sɛʁ]; born 15 September 1926) is a French mathematician who has made contributions to algebraic topology, algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1954 and the inaugural Abel Prize in 2003. Born in Bages, Pyrénées-Orientales, to pharmacist parents, Serre was educated at the Lycée de Nîmes. Then he studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris from 1945 to 1948.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was awarded his doctorate from the Sorbonne in 1951. From 1948 to 1954 he held positions at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris. In 1956 he was elected professor at the Collège de France, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. His wife, Professor Josiane Heulot-Serre, was a chemist; she also was the director of the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Jeunes Filles. Their daughter is the former French diplomat, historian and writer Claudine Monteil.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The French mathematician Denis Serre is his nephew. He practices skiing, table tennis, and rock climbing (in Fontainebleau). From a very young age, Serre was an outstanding figure in the school of Henri Cartan, working on algebraic topology...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Klug — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Alan Greenspan — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Influential American economist, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
• Agatha Christie — Shared historical date (09-15 · Born) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• André Le Nôtre — Shared historical date (09-15 · Died) (1700): Master French landscape architect, famed for the formal gardens of Versailles.
• Albion Woodbury Small — Historical peer (Died in 1926) (1926): Pioneering American sociologist who established the first independent department of sociology in the US.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Historical peer (Born in 1926) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Aarathi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Alan Turing — Historical peer (Died in 1954) (1954): Father of theoretical computer science, known for the Turing machine and codebreaking.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
• September 15 (09-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 15