Charles Dupin (1784-1873) and His Influence on France: The Contributions of a Mathematician, Educator, Engineer, and Statesman

391 Pages·2012·1.292 MB·English

by  Margaret Bradley

Charles Dupin
(1784-1873)
and his
Influence
on
France

Charles Dupin
(1784-1873)
and his
Influence
on
France
The Contributions of a Mathematician,
Educator, Engineer, and Statesman
Margaret Bradley
Copyright 2012 Margaret Bradley
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced
into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior permission of the publisher.
Requests for permission should be directed to:
[email protected], or mailed to:
Cambria Press
20 Northpointe Parkway, Suite 188
Amherst, NY 14228
Cover image is the author’s portrait of Charles Dupin,
based on L. L. Boilly’s lithograph (1820)
in the Paris Academy of Sciences.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bradley, Margaret, 1933-
Charles Dupin and his infl uence on France, 1784-1873 : the contributions of a
mathematician, educator, engineer, and statesman / Margaret Bradley.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60497-751-6 (alk. paper)
1. Dupin, Charles, baron, 1784-1873. 2. Dupin, Charles, baron, 1784-1873—
Infl uence. 3. Intellectuals—France—Biography. 4. Statemen—France—
Biography. 5. France—Intellectual life—19th century. I. Title.
DC255.D86B73 2011
944.06092—dc22 [B]
2011000416
To the memory of the late François Perrin, and to
Ivor Grattan-Guinness, an ever-present help and guide

T C
ABLE OF ONTENTS
Illustration xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
Abbreviations xix
Introduction: Dupin, a Man of Many Talents
and Contradictions 1
Chapter 1: A Brief Introductory Survey of Dupin’s Life 5
Chapter 2: Dupin’s Background and Family 13
Chapter 3: Dupin’s Work and Contributions
in His Early Years 23
Chapter 4: Dupin as a Naval Construction
Engineer Until 1816 45
Chapter 5: To Corfu 59
Chapter 6: Dupin’s Return to Toulon 77
Chapter 7: Dupin’s First Study Visit to the British Isles 93
Chapter 8: Meanwhile, in Dunkirk 113
viii CHARLES DUPIN (1784–1873) AND HIS INFLUENCE ON FRANCE
Chapter 9: The Second Visit to Britain 123
Chapter 10: Dupin’s Publications on Great Britain
Until 1824, Resulting From His Travels 139
Chapter 11: A Summary of the Rise of Charles
Dupin to High Honours and the
Start of a New Career 161
Chapter 12: The Conservatoire national des arts
et métiers 171
Chapter 13: Geometry and Teaching 189
Chapter 14: Dupin, Economist and Statistician 209
Chapter 15: The Economic Situation in France
Around 1827 and the Fall of Villèle 227
Chapter 16: Dupin’s Involvement in Politics,
the Transport System, and the
Introduction of Machinery 247
Chapter 17: Parliamentary Affairs to 1848 263
Chapter 18: Dupin’s Naval Career and His Last
Contributions 283
Pièces Justifi catives 295
Chronology: Dupin’s Life and Work 329
Table of Contents ix
Primary Bibliography 333
Secondary Bibliography 347
Index 363