| Authorised form of name | Petit; Pierre (? 1594 - 1677); engineer and astronomer |
| Other forms of name | Petit, Peter |
| Petitt, Pierre |
| Surname | Petit |
| Forenames | Pierre |
| Dates | ? 1594 - 1677 |
| Nationality | French |
| Dates and places | Birth:
Montlucon, France, Europe (8 December 1594)
Death:
Lagny-sur-Marne, France, Europe (20 August 1677) |
| Activity | Research Field:
Physics, astronomy
Career:
Commissaire provincial de l'artillerie (1633); visited ports in France and Italy; friend of Blaise Pascal, with whom he did experiments on vacuums; Intendant-general des fortifications (1649) |
| Royal Society activity | Membership:
Fellow
Election Date:
04/04/1667
Proposers:
Henry Oldenburg
Other RSActivity:
Acted as an occasional correspondent to the Society (1660s);
Sent papers on comets (1664 and 1665) |
| Published works | RCN: 58770 |
| General context | Petit was acquainted with polymath Marin Mersenne and knew Blaise Pascal and Descartes. In his work, he emphasised the importance of accurate experimental observation and he supported the establishment of a royal observatory, in order to keep of with astronomical advancements across Europe. His main work 'Dissertation sur la nature des comètes' along with his studies on magnetic declination were praised by fellow scholars. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society despite England and France being at war, the War of Devolution. |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DSB; Biographie Universelle; Hunter
Notes:
Altname from Hunter. Later birth date of 31 December 1598 from Hunter and DSB. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/88079267 |
| Royal Society code | NA4518 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| EL/P1/8 | Pierre Petit, dated at Paris, to the Royal Society | 27 May 1667 |
| EL/P1/3 | Pierre Petit, dated at Paris, to Henry Oldenburg | 12 October 1663 |
| EL/P1/4 | Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg | 17 November 1665 |
| EL/P1/2 | Observations of the magnetic declination at Paris by Pierre Petit | nd |
| EL/P1/7 | Translation of letter from Pierre Petit, dated at Paris, to Henry Oldenburg | 5 April 1667 |
| EL/P1/9 | Pierre Petit, dated at Paris, to Henry Oldenburg | 8 May 1667 |
| LBO/2/3 | Copy letter from Pierre Petit to Mr Oldenburg | nd |
| EL/P1/6 | Pierre Petit's paper on magnetic declination | 1667 |
| LBO/2/12 | Copy of a letter from Pierre Petit, Paris, to the Royal Socierty | 27 May 1667 |
| EL/P1/1 | Pierre Petit, dated at Paris, to Henry Oldenburg | 23 October 1660 |