Marin Mersenne

:For the primes named after Marin Mersenne, see Mersenne prime.

Life

Born of peasant parents near Oizé, Maine (present day Sarthe), he was educated at Le Mans and at the Jesuit College of La Flèche, where he was a schoolmate and friend of René Descartes. On July 17, 1611, he joined the Minim Friars, and, after studying theology and Hebrew in Paris received his full holy orders in 1613.

Related Topics:
Oizé - Maine - Sarthe - Le Mans - Jesuit - La Flèche - René Descartes - July 17 - 1611 - Minim Friars - Theology - Hebrew - Paris - Holy orders - 1613

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a time, he taught philosophy at Nevers but returned to Paris in 1620 at the convent of L'Annonciade. There, with other kindred spirits such as Descartes, Étienne Pascal, Gilles de Roberval and Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, he studied mathematics and music. He corresponded with Giovanni Doni, Constantijn Huygens and other scholars in Italy, England and Holland. For four years he devoted himself entirely to philosophic and theological writing, and published Quaestiones celeberrimae in Genesim (1623); L'Impieté des déistes (1624); La Vérité des sciences (1624). It is sometimes incorrectly stated that he was a Jesuit. He was educated by Jesuits, but he never joined the Society of Jesus. He taught theology and philosophy at Nevers and Paris. He visited Italy three times, in 1640, 1641 and 1645.

Related Topics:
Philosophy - Nevers - 1620 - Étienne Pascal - Gilles de Roberval - Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc - Mathematics - Giovanni Doni - Constantijn Huygens - Italy - England - Holland - 1640 - 1641 - 1645

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died through complications arising from surgery.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~