Opera mechanica, geometrica, astronomica et miscellanea

HUGENII VITA.

of mathematics, providing various specimens of a genius born for these studies at that time; in a short while, he acquired a reputation among mathematicians that exceeded his years.

He pursued the study of law at Breda during the years 1646, 1647, and 1648, taking advantage of the illustrious school erected there at that time, the care of which was partly entrusted to his own father.

Returning to The Hague the following year, he followed Henry, Count of Nassau, and visited Holstein and Denmark. He was possessed by a vehement desire to extend his journey as far as Sweden to see Cartesius René Descartes, which he was not permitted to do, as the Count’s embassy ended shortly thereafter.

See page 309. In the year 1651, he published a treatise on the quadrature of the hyperbola, the ellipse, and the circle, based on the given center of gravity of the portions.

I ask that mathematical readers peruse this book and see whether Huygens was not deservedly ranked among the greatest mathematicians while still in his youth.

In the same year and those following, he wrote various works on refractions and dioptrica optics, which exist published in his posthumous works.

In the year 1655, he went to France and was declared a Doctor of Law at Angers.

In the same year, he worked with his brother Constantijn on shaping glass lenses to be used for larger telescopes.