Person Leibniz; Gottfried Wilhelm von (1646 - 1716); mathematician and natural philosopher Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm von mathematician and natural philosopher von Leibniz 1646 - 1716 German Male Leipzig, Electorate of Saxony, [modern day Germany], Europe 1 July 1646 16460701 Hanover, Electorate of Hanover, [modern day Germany], Europe 14 November 1716 17161114 Baptism: St Nicholas' Church, Leipzig, Electorate of Saxony [modern day German], Europe (3 July 1646)

Civil servant Mathematics Philosophy Metaphysics Education: Nicolai School; Leipzig (admitted 1661); Jena (admitted 1663); Altdorf (LLD 1666) Career: Employed by the Elector Johann Philipp von Schonborn of Mainz as an adviser on legal matters (1667); began work on his calculating machine (1671); went on a diplomatic missions to Paris (1672) and London (1673); on the death of the Elector, went to Paris, hoping for a post at the Academie des Sciences, but was disappointed; visited Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (FRS 1680); Adviser and Librarian to the Duke of Hannover (1676); Councillor at the Court of Hannover (1679); travelled through Germany and Italy in order to prepare a genealogy of the house of Brunswick and visited Vincenzo Viviani (FRS 1696) in Florence and Marcello Malpighi (FRS 1665) in Bologna (1687-1689); Privy Councillor in Hannover; in the service of Sophia Charlotte, Electress of Brandenburg (1700); involved in a dispute about calculus with Isaac Newton (FRS 1672) Parents: Friedrich Leibniz and Katharina Schmuck Throughout his career, Leibniz was in regular correspondence or collaboration with many Fellows of the Society, e.g. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (FRS 1665) or Marcello Malpighi (FRS 1667). He published papers on quadratures and his method of differentiation and integration, as well as works on law, ethics, and politics. He is probably most well-known for his involvement in the Newton-Leibniz controversy regarding the origin of calculus. The general consensus was that Leibniz had not in fact discovered calculus independently of Newton and so much of his work on mathematics and physics was not held in high regard towards the end of his life. His reputation, particularly as a philosopher, improved posthumously. Fellow 09/04/1673 26 Sir Robert Moray Correspondent to Henry Oldenburg on mathematics, incl. his calculating machine Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DSB References: Sir Alan Cook, 'The 350th Anniversary of the Birth of G W Leibniz, FRS' in NR 1996 vol 50 pp 153-163, plate Milo Keynes, 'The Personality of Isaac Newton' in NR 1995 vol 49 pp 1-56 Derek Massarella, 'Philip Henry Zollman, the Royal Society's First Assistant Secretary for Foreign Correspondence' in NR 1992 vol 46 pp 219-234 D T Whiteside, 'The Prehistory of the Principia from 1664 to 1686' in NR 1991 vol 45 pp 11-61 G J Whitrow, 'Newton's Role in the History of Mathematics' in NR 1989 vol 43 pp 71-92 E A Fellmann, 'The Principia and Continental Mathematicians' in NR 1988 vol 42 pp 13-34 Marie Boas Hall, 'The Royal Society's Role in the Diffusion of Information in the Seventeenth Century' in NR 1974-5 vol 29 pp 173-192 Joan L Hawes, 'Newton's Revival of the Aether Hypothesis and the Explanation of Gravitational Attraction' in NR 1968 vol 23 pp 200-212 R E W Maddison, 'Studies in the Life of Robert Boyle, FRS. Part IV. Robert Boyle and Some of his Foreign Visitors' in NR 1954-55 vol 11 pp 38-53 M Greenwood, 'The First Life Table' in NR 1938 vol 1 pp 70-72 R Lewis, 'The publication of John Wilkins's Essay (1668): some contextual considerations' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp133-146 M V Wilkes, 'Charles Babbage and his world' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 353-365 J S Rowlinson, 'Le Sage's Essai de chymie mechanique' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 35-45 A Cook, 'Rome and the Royal Society, 1660-1740' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 3-19 P Fara, 'Theatrical Science. C Djerassi and D Pinner, Newton's darkness: two dramatic views' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 237-238 M Bailey Ogilvie, 'In her place. Pandora's breeches: women, science and power in the enlightenment, by P Fara' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 314-315 Kempe, M. (2024) 'The best of all possible worlds: a life of Leibniz in seven pivotal days' (Pushkin P.) Notes: Old Style has his birth date as 21 June 1646. Leibniz P0080.jpg ©The Royal Society International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH5107 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-9348 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 29/07/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8450 05/02/2002 Gudrun 10/10/2025 RS_NET\rupert Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/9849392 0e0626b7-ee74-4ccc-ad59-ab6f9ed5bbdc