Johann Friedrich Pfaff

Johann Friedrich Pfaff was a German mathematician. He was described as one of Germany's most eminent mathematicians during the 19th century. He was a precursor of the German school of mathematical thinking, under which Carl Friedrich Gauss and his followers largely determined the lines on which mathematics developed during the 19th century.They asked Laplace who, in his opinion, was the greatest mathematician of Germany. "It's Pfaff," he answered. - "I thought," the questioner replied, "that Gauss was superior to him." - "But," exclaimed Laplace, "you're asking me who is the greatest mathematician of Germany, and Gauss is the greatest mathematician of Europe."

22 December 1765

Born on the same birth day (22 December): Brian Daley • Britta Heidemann • Charlotte Lamb • Chris Old • Diocletian • Eduard Uspensky • Emmanuel Olisadebe • Filippo Tommaso Marinetti • Kirk Maltby • Lynne Thigpen • Meghan Trainor • Peregrine Worsthorne • Sergei Aschwanden • Ted Cruz • Yuri Malenchenko • Zack Britton

Born in the same month (December 1765): Eli Whitney