Chasles Michel

Chasles, Michel (1793-1880), a Frenchman of science, born at Chartres, and educated at the Ecole Polytechnique, from which he passed as an officer of engineers, but resigned his place in favour of a comrade. He wrote upon mathematical subjects, and was in 1841 appointed to the chair of machines and geodesy in the Ecole Polytechnique, and in 1846 to that of higher geometry at the Sorbonne. He wrote many works upon scientific points, especially geometry, and is considered one of the first geometers of the century. In 1867-1869 he defended the authenticity of certain letters (afterwards proved forgeries) of Pascal and Newton, transferring the credit of Newton's discoveries to Pascal. Their forger, one Irene Lucas, was convicted in 1869.