Alexander Grothendieck

Alexander Grothendieck (born March 28, 1928, Berlin) was one of the most important mathematicians active in the 20th century. He was also one of its most extreme scientific personalities, with achievements over a short span of years that are still scarcely credible in their broad scope and sheer bulk, and an approach that antagonised even close followers. He made major contributions to algebraic geometry, homological algebra, and functional analysis. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1966, and co-awarded the Crafoord Prize with Pierre Deligne in 1988. He declined the latter prize, on ethical grounds.

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March 28 - 1928 - Berlin - Mathematician - 20th century - Algebraic geometry - Homological algebra - Functional analysis - Fields Medal - 1966 - Crafoord Prize - Pierre Deligne - 1988

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He is noted for his mastery of abstract approaches to mathematics, and his perfectionism in matters of formulation and presentation. Relatively little of his work after 1960 was published by the conventional route of the learned journal, circulating initially in duplicated volumes of seminar notes; his influence was to a considerable extent personal, on French mathematics and the Zariski school at Harvard University. He is the subject of many stories and some misleading rumours, concerning his work habits and politics, confrontations with other mathematicians and the French authorities, his withdrawal from mathematics at age 40, his retirement and his subsequent lengthy writings.

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Learned journal - Zariski - Harvard University

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