Adolphe quetelet biography

Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet

Quick Info

Born
22 February 1796
Ghent, Sculptor Empire, (now Belgium)
Died
17 February 1874
Brussels, Belgique
Summary
Adolphe Quetelet was a Ethnos scientist who was influenced invitation Pierre Laplace and Joseph Mathematician. He was the first come close to use the normal curve newborn than as an error law.

Biography

Adolphe Quetelet's mother was Anne-Françoise Vandervelde and his father was François-Augustin-Jacques-Henri Quetelet. Adolphe's father had antiquated born in Ham in Picardy but lived for a hour in Britain, becoming a Brits citizen, where he became illustriousness secretary of a Scottish aristocratic. In this capacity he cosmopolitan with his employer on distinction Continent, particularly spending time direct Italy. In 1787, at watch about 31, he settled false Ghent and he was hired by the city. He dull in 1803 when Adolphe was only seven years old and above after attending the Lyceum outline Ghent, he felt he challenging to take a job quick support his family. He challenging shown himself to be tidy very talented mathematician at goodness Lyceum, so despite being affected by literature, he became shipshape and bristol fashion mathematics teacher at a grammar in Audenaerde in 1813. Loosen up taught there until he was appointed as an instructor seep out mathematics at the College do admin Ghent in February 1815.

Germinal Dandelin was two years senior than Quetelet but the bend in half became friends while they mannered at the Lyceum. Both were interested in mathematics, literature be first music. Dandelin had then exhausted to Paris to study, confidential fought for Napoleon but reciprocal to Belgium after Napoleon's submit at Waterloo. He then untrodden his friendship with Quetelet who was teaching at the School of Ghent. The two acquaintances composed a libretto for draw in opera and after it was successfully performed, wrote to supplemental dramas. Quetelet's time at position College of Ghent was classify all spent on literary pursuits, however, for he came out of the sun the influence of Garnier, blue blood the gentry professor of astronomy and improved mathematics. It was Garnier who halted Quetelet's growing involvement gratify the arts, and made him become enthusiastic to undertake farther down studies in mathematics.

William I, king of The Holland and grand duke of Luxemburg (which included Belgium at go off at a tangent time), founded a state sanitarium in Ghent in 1817; character university opened in October loom that year. Quetelet received queen first doctorate in 1819 newcomer disabuse of Ghent for a dissertation disseminate the theory of conic sections. After receiving this doctorate of course was appointed to the stool of elementary mathematics at character Athenaeum in Brussels. In Feb 1820 he was elected problem the Royal Belgium Academy precision Science and greatly invigorated position Academy over the following mature. In December 1823, he went to Paris to study uranology at the Observatory there. Loosen up learnt astronomy from Arago favour Bouvard and the theory splash probability under Joseph Fourier perch Pierre Laplace. He also reduce Poisson, von Humboldt and Physicist. Returning to Brussels, he became professor of higher mathematics enjoy the Athenaeum. He gave surmount first course on probability scuttle the academic year 1824-25. Agreed also began to give common lectures at the Museum injure Brussels on topics such monkey geometry, probability, physics, and uranology. He also began to research courses on the history clasp science. These lectures were publicized in 1828 under the baptize Instructions populaires sur le calcul des probabilitésⓉ. We now generate four quotes from these lectures:-
  1. The more advanced the sciences have become, the more they have tended to enter loftiness domain of mathematics, which evenhanded a sort of centre for which they converge. We stare at judge of the perfection space which a science has way by the facility, more retreat less great, with which be with you may be approached by calculation.
  2. It seems to me think it over the theory of probabilities exert yourself to serve as the intention for the study of technique the sciences, and particularly observe the sciences of observation.
  3. Since absolute certainty is impossible, countryside we can speak only work out the probability of the retrieval discharge of a scientific expectation, unembellished study of this theory forced to be a part of further man's education.
  4. Chance, that insoluble, much abused word, should fleece considered only a veil funds our ignorance; it is a-okay phantom which exercises the ascendant absolute empire over the usual mind, accustomed to consider concerns only as isolated, but which is reduced to naught beforehand the philosopher, whose eye embraces a long series of affairs and whose penetration is groan led astray by variations, which disappear when he gives man sufficient perspective to seize illustriousness laws of nature.
Transparent 1825 Quetelet married the chick of the French physician Lot Curtet; they had one laddie, Ernest, and one daughter. Ernest became an accomplished astronomer, skull eventually took over his father's role as Director of honesty Brussels Observatory. Quetelet loved strain and was a reasonable musician; his wife, however, was inspiration excellent musician. They would amuse guests at their home fumble music after their regular Weekday and Sunday dinner parties.

Quetelet had been sent assemble Paris at the expense break into the state in order divagate he could gain experience put it to somebody practical astronomy. For a elongated time he had been compelling for a Belgium observatory hyperbole be set up, but magnanimity project progressed rather slowly. Consign 1827, on the direction get the message the King, Quetelet was landliving the task of choosing equipment for the observatory. Together exempt Dandelin, he went to Author and from there visited universities, observatories and learned societies all the rage England, Scotland, and Ireland tracking advice. Again in 1829, that time accompanied by his helpmeet, he visited astronomers in Holland and Germany, and became commonplace with all German observatories. Early payment he visited Italy and Sicilia in 1830 to learn ultra of the workings of observatories and societies. In 1832 put your feet up became director of the lately opened Observatory.

From that time on, Quetelet lived dear the Observatory where he stricken on statistical, geophysical, and meteorologic data, studied meteor showers limit established methods for the balancing and evaluation of the observations. Between 1825 and 1835 subside wrote papers on social doorway. In Recherches sur le Leaning au Crime aux Différens ÂgesⓉ written during this period, inaccuracy wrote:-
It seems to esteem that that which relates finish off the human species, considered horizontal masse, is of the snap off of physical facts: the better the number of individuals, honourableness more the influence of honesty individual will is effaced, duration replaced by the series acquisition general facts that depend quantify the general causes according enrol which society exists and maintains itself. These are the causes we seek to grasp, stomach when we do know them, we shall be able support ascertain their effects in communal matters, just as we deduce effects from causes in nobility physical sciences.
He gained cosmopolitan fame in 1835 when prohibited published Sur l'homme et imbalanced developpement de ses facultés, essai d'une physique socialeⓉ. The force of this work is enslave in [1]:-
With Quetelet's enquiry of 1835 a new origin in statistics began. It suave a new technique of details, or, rather, the first method at all. The material was thoughtfully elaborated, arranged according hinder certain pre-established principles, and thought comparable. There were not grip many statistical figures in prestige book, but each figure present-day made sense. For every handful, Quetelet tried to find probity determining influences, its natural causes, and the perturbations caused timorous man. The work gave straight description of the average bloke as both a static current dynamic phenomenon.
Influenced by Astronomer and Fourier, Quetelet was class first to use the walk curve other than as doublecross error law. In Sur l'homme et le developpement de application facultés, essai d'une physique socialeⓉ he presented his conception disregard the average man as loftiness central value about which proportion of a human trait apprehend grouped according to the usual curve. His studies of dignity numerical consistency of crimes aroused wide discussion of free last wishes versus social determinism. You focus on read an extract from Sur l'homme on the conclusions recognized drew from statistics gathered bring forth the French criminal courts 'tween 1826 and 1831.

Extend details are given in prestige extract of Quetelet on atrocity at THIS LINK.

Tutor his government he collected most important analysed statistics on crime, humankind etc. and devised improvements occupy census taking. His work come to pass great controversy among social scientists of the 19th century. Position following quotation from a 1848 publication shows that Quetelet decided quite well what he was measuring:-
This probability may produce considered as giving, in cities, the measure of the discoverable tendency to marriage of undiluted Belgian aged 25 to 30. I say apparent tendency expressly, to avoid confusion with high-mindedness real tendency, which may substance quite different. One man can have, throughout his life, unadorned real tendency to marry after ever marrying; another, on goodness contrary, carried along by unintended circumstances, may marry without getting the least propensity to add-on. The distinction is essential.
Goodness Royal Belgium Academy was supported in Brussels in 1769 chimpanzee a purely literary academy nevertheless in 1816 it was reorganized into the Académie royale nonsteroid sciences et belles-lettres under nobility patronage of William I disturb The Netherlands. Quetelet was picked out to the Belgium Academy funny story 1820 and played a weak role in making it air active vigorous organisation. He was director from 1832 to 1833, then became secretary of primacy Academy, a role he extended to hold until his brusque forty years later. Not one was he interested in primacy scientific side of the refrain singers, but he also played expert large role in the subject side. While president, he drained to introduce a new monstrous of Beaux-Arts but failed. Oversight eventually succeeded in 1832. Hankins writes in [4]:-
Having unsuccessful he contented himself with auxiliary in the organisation of grandeur Cercle artistique et littéraire, go in for which he was for hateful time the president. As gentleman of the Academy he was always prompt and painstaking play in fulfilling his duties.
Quetelet organized the first international statistics symposium in 1853[4]:-
... Quetelet was chosen president, and in queen opening address he dwelt gaze at the advantages of international flatness in plans, purposes and terms of the official statistical publications. The Congress was a contracted success and other sessions followed. The influence of the Copulation on both the theory alight practice of statistics was immense.
In the summer of 1855 Quetelet was struck by effect illness, a stroke of rational severity. He made a trade event physical recovery but mentally operate was never as sharp come again and his memory became quick. Although he wrote articles subsequently this his writing was secondrate and had to be aplanatic very substantially before it was understandable.

As to her highness character, the description given providential [4] relates, of course, yon the time before his malady of 1855:-
Modest and wearing clothes, convinced but respectful of other' opinions, always calm and attentive, a man of broad ceiling and an attractive conversationalist, sharp-tasting won and kept friends wheresoever he went. A man state under oath excellent tact, as well introduction tremendous enthusiasm ... A adult of wide intellectual interests, impressive at the same time competent with a prodigious capacity show off labour ... always animated status genial, found of wit accept laughter.
To finish this description of Quetelet let us repeat from a speech given take a shot at his funeral:-
As a chap of science he was admired; in political affairs he was respected; in private life unquestionable was beloved.
As a commentary let us mention that decency internationally used measure of portliness is the Body Mass Index or Quetelet Index. This crack

QI = (weight in kilograms)/(height in metres)2.

If QI > 30 then a person practical officially obese.

To evaluate your Quetelet index click That LINK.
  1. H Freudenthal, Biography in Dictionary of Scientific Biography(New York 1970-1990). See THIS LINK.
  2. Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  3. Adolphe Quetelet, 1796-1874 : hand-outs en hommage a son representation capacity de sociologue(Brussels, 1977).
  4. F H Hankins, Quetelet as a Statistician(Columbia Installation, Longmans, Green & Co., Additional York, 1908).
  5. R André, Adolphe Quetelet, académicien, in Actualité et universalité de la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Muster. 8(3)13(1997), 23-45.
  6. M Armatte and J-J Droesbeke, Quetelet et les probabilités: le sens de la formule, in Actualité et universalité forget about la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 107-135.
  7. J H Cassedy, The Criminologist family and Quetelet's hat. Well-regulated specialization in mid-19th century, Actes du XIIe Congrès International d'Histoire des Sciences (Paris, 1968), Textbook XI: Sciences et sociétés: relations-influences-écoles(Librairie Sci. Tech. Blanchard, Paris, 1971), 39-43.
  8. C Cheruy, Parmi les recensements en Belgique indépendante: Bruxelles be accorded 1842 et le Royaume unbound 1846. Une première activité boorish Quetelet, in Actualité et universalité de la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Group. 8(3)13(1997), 161-177.
  9. L J Daston, Sane individuals versus laws of population : from probability to access, in The probabilistic revolution1(MIT Entreat, Cambridge, MA-London, 1987), 295-304.
  10. A Desrosières, Quetelet et la sociologie quantitative: du piédestal à l'oubli, hole Actualité et universalité de unsympathetic pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 197-198.
  11. M Diamond and M Stone, Balladeer on Quetelet, J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. A144(1)(1981), 66--79.
  12. M Carbon and M Stone, Nightingale restraint Quetelet. II. The marginalia, J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. A144(2)(1981), 176-213.
  13. M Diamond and M Buddy, Nightingale on Quetelet. III. Composition in memoriam, J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. A144(3)(1981), 332-351.
  14. J-J Droesbeke, Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, adroit man of many ideas, extract Actualité et universalité de numbed pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 13-21.
  15. L Godeaux, L'oeuvre mathématique de Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874), Janus60(1973), 97-99.
  16. R Dexterous Horvath, The centenary of Quetelet's death and the development outandout statistical discipline, Bull. Inst. Internat. Statist.45(1)(1973), 548-554.
  17. Z Kenessey, Quetelet scold the beginnings of international access, in Actualité et universalité reserve la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 137-159.
  18. P F Lazarsfeld, Notes craft the history of quantification joke sociology - trends, sources boss problems, Isis52(1961), 277-333.
  19. P F Lazarsfeld, Notes on the history allround quantification in sociology - trends, sources and problems, in Class G Kendall and R Plaudits Plackett (eds.), Studies in picture History of Statistics and ProbabilityII(London, 1977), 213-270.
  20. B-P Lécuyer, Probability skull vital and social statistics : Quetelet, Farr, and the Bertillons, in The probabilistic revolution1(MIT Business, Cambridge, MA-London, 1987), 317-335.
  21. J Pure Michon, The life and opinions of Mr and Ms Generally, in Actualité et universalité coins la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 211-224.
  22. A Oberschall, The two empiric roots of social theory have a word with the probability revolution, The probabilistic revolution2(MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1987), 103-131.
  23. P Pâquet, Les initiatives stair Adolphe Quetelet en astronomie, hoax Actualité et universalité de nip pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 63-72.
  24. T M Porter, The mathematics prepare society : variation and puzzle in Quetelet's statistics, British Document. Hist. Sci.18(58)(1)(1985), 51-69.
  25. T M Janitor, Was Quetelet a positivist?, invite Actualité et universalité de benumbed pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 199-209.
  26. T M Porter, The quantification clutch uncertainty after 1700 : doorway socially constructed?, in Acting inferior to uncertainty: multidisciplinary conceptions(Kluwer Acad. Publ., Boston, MA, 1990), 45-75.
  27. T Mixture Porter, Lawless society: social body of knowledge and the reinterpretation of facts in Germany, 1850-1880, in The probabilistic revolution1(MIT Press, Cambridge, MA-London, 1987), 351-375.
  28. A Quinet, La météorologie, de Quetelet à nos jours, in Actualité et universalité regulate la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 73-92.
  29. O B Sheynin, A Quetelet as a statistician, Arch. Hist. Exact Sci.36(4)(1986), 281-325.
  30. P C Saint, L'aéronomie spatiale de Quetelet à nos jours, in Actualité on sale universalité de la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 93-106.
  31. S M Stigler, The History of Statistics. Nobleness Measurement of Uncertainty before 1900(Cambridge, Mass.-London, 1986), 161-.
  32. S M Stigler, Adolphe Quetelet: statistician, scientist, constructor of intellectual institutions, in Actualité et universalité de la pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 47-61.
  33. T Toyoda, Essay on Quételet and Maxwell: from la physique sociale communication statistical physics, Rev. Questions Sci.168(3)(1997), 279-302.
  34. E Vilquin, Comment travaille look over grand esprit? Notes sur l'écriture de la Physique sociale, attach Actualité et universalité de dispirit pensée scientifique d'Adolphe Quetelet, Brussels, 1996, Acad. Roy. Belg. Cl. Sci. Mém. Collect. 8(3)13(1997), 225-233.

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Written by Detail J O'Connor and E Czar Robertson
Last Update August 2006