23 Facts About Christian Goldbach

Christian Goldbach had a close friendship with famous mathematician Leonhard Euler, serving as inspiration for Euler's mathematical pursuits.

Christian Goldbach briefly attended Oxford University in 1713 and, while he was there, Goldbach studied mathematics with John Wallis and Isaac Newton.

Also, Christian Goldbach's travels fostered his interest in philology, archaeology, metaphysics, ballistics, and medicine.

Between 1717 and 1724, Christian Goldbach published his first few papers which, while minor, credited his mathematical ability.

Christian Goldbach followed Bilfinger and Hermann to the newly opened St Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1725.

Christian Goldbach wrote to the president-designate of the academy, petitioning for a position in the academy, using his past publications and knowledge in medicine and law as qualifications.

Christian Goldbach was then hired to a five-year contract as a professor of mathematics and historian of the academy.

Christian Goldbach worked with famous mathematicians like Leonhard Euler, Daniel Bernoulli, Johann Bernoulli, and Jean le Rond d'Alembert.

Christian Goldbach played a part in Euler's decision to academically pursue mathematics instead of medicine, cementing mathematics as the premier research field of the academy in the 1730s.

In 1728, when Peter II became Tsar of Russia, Christian Goldbach became Peter II and Anna's, Peter II's cousin, tutor.

Peter II moved the Russian court from St Petersburg to Moscow in 1729, so Christian Goldbach followed him to Moscow.

Christian Goldbach started a correspondence with Euler in 1729, in which some of Christian Goldbach's most important mathematics contributions can be found.

In 1732, Christian Goldbach returned to the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and stayed in the Russian government when Anna moved the court back to St Petersburg.

Also, Christian Goldbach took on duty in Russian court under Empress Anna.

Christian Goldbach managed to retain his influence in court after the death of Anna and the rule of Empress Elizabeth.

Christian Goldbach was gifted land and increased salary for his good work and rise in the Russian government.

In 1760, Christian Goldbach created new guidelines for the education of the royal children which would remain in place for 100 years.

Christian Goldbach is most noted for his correspondence with Leibniz, Euler, and Bernoulli, especially in his 1742 letter to Euler stating his Christian Goldbach's conjecture.

Christian Goldbach proved a result concerning Fermat numbers that is called Goldbach's theorem.

Christian Goldbach was the leading influence on Euler's interest and work in number theory.

Also, in 1729 Christian Goldbach closely approximated the Basel problem, which prompted Euler's interest and concurring breakthrough solution.

Euler subsequently offered a proof to the conjecture, crediting Christian Goldbach with introducing him to the subfield.

Euler proceeded to write 560 writings, published posthumously in four volumes of Opera omnia, with Christian Goldbach's influence guiding some of the writings.