Vincenzo Brunacci
| Vincenzo Brunacci | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
3 March 1768 Florence, Italy |
| Died | 16 June 1818 (aged 50) Pavia, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Alma mater | University of Pisa |
| Doctoral advisor | Pietro Paoli |
| Other academic advisors | Sebastiano Canovai |
| Doctoral students |
Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti Antonio Bordoni Gabrio Piola |
| Known for | Contributions to infinitesimal calculus |
Vincenzo Brunacci (3 March 1768 – 16 June 1818) was an Italian mathematician born in Florence. He was professor of Matematica sublime (infinitesimal calculus) in Pavia. He transmitted Lagrange's ideas to his pupils, including Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti, Antonio Bordoni and Gabrio Piola.
He studied medicine, astronomy and mathematics at the University of Pisa. In 1788 he earned his laurea and the same year he started teaching mathematics at the Navy Institute of Leghorn. In 1796, when Napoleon entered Italy, he endorsed the new order. As a consequence of the Austrian reaction he moved to France between 1799 and 1800. On returning he attained a chair at the University of Pisa. In 1801 he moved to the University of Pavia with the office of professor of infinitesimal calculus and become its dean.
Brunacci believed that Lagrange's approach, developed in the "Théorie des fonctions analytiques", was the correct one and that the infinitesimal concept was to be banned from analysis and mechanics. In Brunacci's university teaching infinitesimal calculus differently from Lagrange's principles was even prohibited as a rule. Brunacci passed his idea of analysis on to his students, among which Fabrizio Ottaviano Mossotti, Gabrio Piola and Antonio Bordoni.
He cooperated with the public administration, in 1805 he was in the Committee for the Naviglio Pavese (Pavia Canal) project and the following year as inspector of Waters and Roads.
In 1809 he joined the Committee for the new measurements and weights system and from 1811 he was inspector general of Public Education for the entire Italian Kingdom.
He died in Pavia in 1818.
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