Christian Huygens ( 1629 - 1695 )

Birth: The Hague, Netherlands, Europe (14 April 1629) Death: The Hague, Netherlands, Europe (8 July 1695) Research Field: Physics; mathematics; astronomy; optics Education: Taught by his father; University of Leyden (1645-1647); Collegium Arausiacum [College of Orange] at Breda (1647-1649); University of Angers (LLD, 1655) Career: Travelled to Denmark in group of diplomats (1649); published 'Cyclometriae' (1651); published 'De Circuli Magnitudine' (1654); discovered the first moon of Saturn (1655); published 'De Ratiociniis in Ludo Aleae' on probability (1656); discovered the shape of the rings of Saturn (1656); patented first pendulum clock (1656) and continued to build them to determine longitude at sea; published 'Systema Saturnium' (1659) regarding the rings of Saturn; published 'Horologium Oscillatorium sive de motu pendulorum' (1673) on the theory of pendulum motion; travelled to London (1661); found error in Descartes' law on impact and worked on the collision of elastic bodies (1668); worked with Académie Royale des Sciences (1666-); published his work on the wave theory of light, 'Traité de la lumiere' (1678); travelled back to England (1689); started work on one of the earliest discussions of extraterrestrial life, 'Cosmotheoros' (1698) Memberships: Académie Royale des Sciences (1665; first foreigner to become a member) Membership: Original Fellow Election Date: 22/06/1663 Committee appointments include: Mechanical Committee (1664) Astronomical and Optical Committee (1664) Other RSActivity: Frequent correspondent to European natural philosophers.