Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm von (1646-1716), German philosopher and mathematician.

One autographed letter in French, dated Dresde(n?), 21 September 1712, to unknown male addresssee ("Monsieur") plus a short biographical note in English, undated (added later?). Date estimated by cataloguer.

18th century

1 file (1 item)

Purchased from Sotheby's, London, February 1931 (acc.56325).

G. W. Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German mathematician and philosopher, writing in Latin, French and German. He studied philosophy and law in Leipzig (1661-65) and gained a doctorate in law from the University of Altdorf in 1666.

He developed infinitesimal calculus and became one of the most prolific inventors in the field of mechanical calculators. In philosophy, he was a proponent of rationalism.

He died in Hanover in 1716.