Georges Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon

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Born: 7 Sept 1707 in Montbard, Côte d'Or, France
Died: 16 April 1788 in Paris, France

 

At the age of 20 Georges Buffon discovered the binomial theorem. He corresponded with Cramer on mechanics, geometry, probability, number theory and the differential and integral calculus.

His first work Sur le jeu de franc-carreau introduced differential and integral calculus into probability theory. He wrote Théorie de la terre and became the most important natural historian of his day having great influence across a wide scientific field.

He is remembered most in mathematics for a probability experiment which he carried out calculating p by throwing sticks over his shoulder onto a tiled floor and counting the number of times the sticks fell across the lines between the tiles. This experiment caused much discussion among mathematicians which helped towards an understanding of probability.