BEZOUT (Stephen)

, a celebrated French mathematician, Member of the Academies of Sciences and the Marine, and Examiner of the Guards of the Marine and of the Eleves of Artillery, was born at Nemours the 31st of March 1730. In the course of his studies he met with some books of geometry, which gave him a taste for that science; and the Eloges of Fontenelle, which shewed him the honours attendant on talents and the love of the sciences. His father in vain opposed the strong attachment of young Bezout to the mathematical sciences. April 8, 1758, he was named adjoint-mechanician in the French academy of sciences; having before that sent them two ingenious memoirs on the integral calculus, and given other proofs of his proficiency in the sciences. In 1763, he was named to the new office of Examiner to the Marine, and appointed to compose a Course of Mathematics for their use; and in 1768, on the death of M. Camus, he succeeded as Examiner of the Artillery Eleves.

Bezout fixed his attention more particularly to the resolution of algebraic equations; and he first found out the solution of a particular class of equations of all degrees. This method, different from all former ones, was general for the cubic and biquadratic equations, and just became particular only at those of the 5th degree. Upon this work of finding the roots of equations, our author laboured from 1762 till 1779, when he published it. He composed two courses of mathematics; the one for the Marine, the other for the Artillery: The foundation of these two works was the same; the applications only being different, according to the two different objects: these courses have every where been held in great estimation. In his office of examiner he discharged the duties with great attention, care, and tenderness; a trait of his justice and zeal is remarkable in the following instance: During an examination which he held at Toulon, he was told that two of the pupils could not be present, being confined by the small-pox: he himself had never had that disease, and he was greatly afraid of it; but as he knew that if he did not see these two young men, it would much impede their improvement; he ventured therefore to their bed-sides, to examine them, and was happy to find them so deserving of the hazard he put himself into for their benefit.

Mr. Bezout lived thus several years beloved of his family and friends, and respected by all, enjoying the fruits and the credit of his labours. But the trouble and fatigues of his offices, with some personal chagrines, had reduced his strength and constitution; he was attacked by a malignant fever, of which he died Sept. 27, 1783, in the 54th year of his age, regretted by his samily, his friends, the young students, and by all his acquaintance in general.

The books published by him, were:

1. Course of Mathematics for the use of the Marine, with a Treatise on Navigation; 6 vols. in 8vo, Paris, 1764.

2. Course of Mathematics for the Corps of Artillery; 4 vols. in 8vo, 1770.

3. General Theory of Algebraic Equations; 1779.

His papers printed in the volumes of the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, are:

1. On curves whose rectification depends on a given quantity; in the vol. for 1758.

2. On several classes of equations that admit of an algebraic solution; 1762.

3. First vol. of a course of mathematics, 1764.

4. On certain equations, &c; 1764.

5. General resolution of all equations; 1765.

6. Second vol. of a course of mathematics; 1765.

7. Third vol. of the same; 1766.

8. Fourth vol. of the same; 1767.

9. Integration of differentials, &c. vol. 3, Sav. Etr.

10. Experiments on cold; 1777.