| Authorised form of name | Petit; Pierre (? 1594 - 1677); engineer and astronomer |
| Other forms of name | Peter |
| Petitt, Pierre |
| Dates | ? 1594 - 1677 |
| Nationality | French |
| Place of birth | Montlucon, France, Europe |
| Date of birth | 8 December 1594 |
| Place of death | Lagny-sur-Marne, France, Europe |
| Date of death | 20 August 1677 |
| Research field | Physics |
| Astronomy |
| Activity | 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)
|
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 04/04/1667 |
| Proposer | Henry Oldenburg |
| Other Royal Society activity | 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 |
| LBO/2/3 | Copy letter from Pierre Petit to Mr Oldenburg | nd |
| LBO/2/12 | Copy of a letter from Pierre Petit, Paris, to the Royal Socierty | 27 May 1667 |
| EL/O1/27 | Letter, from Henry Oldenburg to [Pierre] Petit | 1666 |
| EL/P1/2 | Observations of the magnetic declination at Paris by Pierre Petit | nd |
| EL/P1/8 | Letter, from Pierre Petit to the Royal Society, dated at Paris | 27 May 1667 |
| EL/P1/7 | Translation of a letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris | 5 April 1667 |
| EL/P1/4 | Letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg | 17 November 1665 |
| EL/P1/1 | Letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris | 23 October 1660 |
| EL/P1/3 | Letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris | 12 October 1663 |
| EL/P1/5 | Copy of a letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg | 1667 |
| EL/P1/9 | Letter, from Pierre Petit to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris | 8 May 1667 |
| EL/O1/79 | Letter, from Henry Oldenburg to [Pierre] Petit, dated at London | 20 October 1668 |
| EL/O1/5 | Letter, from Henry Oldenburg to [Pierre] Petit, dated at London | 30 October 1663 |
| EL/P1/6 | Paper, 'On magnetic declination' by Pierre Petit | 1667 |