Professor Hermann Minkowski, c mid-20th century

Hermann Minkowski was born 22 June 1864, died 12 January 1909. Minkowski was a mathematician and professor at the University of Königsberg, the University of Zürich, and the University of Göttingen. He is best known for working on geometry of numbers and convex geometry, using geometry to solve problems in number theory, physics and the theory of relativity. He is best known for his work in describing space-time as a 4D space, know as 'Minkowski spacetime', which allowed geometric interpretations of Einstein's special theory of relativity (1905). He was born in the Kingdom of Poland, modern-day Lithuania. The year he was born, Poland was part of the Russian Empire. As his family was Jewish, Minkowski and his family moved to Königsberg, Germany, to avoid mounting persecution in Russia against Jewish people. He married Auguste Adler in 1897, and had two daughters. He died of appendicitis in 1909. His obituary was delivered by Max Born, creator of these slides.