Bernhard Riemann

Bernhard Riemann was born to Friedrich Bernhard Riemann, a Lutheran pastor, and Charlotte Ebell. He grew up in a humble family, deeply influenced by his father's religious and moral teachings.

Riemann moved to Hanover to attend the Gymnasium, where he excelled in mathematics and showed a keen interest in theology, influenced by his father's profession.

Riemann began his studies at the University of Göttingen, initially focusing on theology and philosophy but soon shifting his focus to mathematics under the influence of Carl Friedrich Gauss.

Seeking more advanced mathematical studies, Riemann transferred to the University of Berlin, where he studied under notable mathematicians such as Jakob Steiner, Gotthold Eisenstein, and Carl Gustav Jacobi.

Riemann returned to the University of Göttingen to pursue his doctoral studies. He worked under the supervision of Carl Friedrich Gauss, who recognized his exceptional talent.

Riemann completed his doctoral thesis, 'Grundlagen für eine allgemeine Theorie der Funktionen einer veränderlichen komplexen Größe' (Foundations for a General Theory of Functions of a Variable Complex Size), which introduced Riemann surfaces.

Riemann delivered his famous inaugural lecture, 'Über die Hypothesen, welche der Geometrie zu Grunde liegen' (On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry), introducing the concept of Riemannian geometry.

Riemann was appointed as a professor at the University of Göttingen, where he continued his groundbreaking work in mathematics. He published several influential papers during this period.

Riemann published his paper 'Über die Anzahl der Primzahlen unter einer gegebenen Größe' (On the Number of Primes Less Than a Given Magnitude), introducing the Riemann Hypothesis, one of the most famous unsolved problems in mathematics.

Riemann married Elise Koch, a friend of his sister. The couple had one daughter, Ida, born in 1863. Their marriage was marked by a deep and loving relationship despite the challenges they faced.

Bernhard Riemann died of tuberculosis in Selasca, Italy, while seeking a warmer climate to improve his health. His legacy in mathematics, particularly in complex analysis and geometry, remains profound.