Hotties from History

Hotty from History #32 - Évariste Galois

Young, short and tragic lives are irresistible to any hotty historian, especially if the person in question was French, incredibly handsome and in possession of amazing intellect.

Évariste was born in a small village outside Paris, 22 years after the French revolution, and was brought up during a time of massive upheaval. His father, a strong liberalist and mayor of his hometown influenced Galois’ strong republican views- Galois was said to be seen in the village reading out his witty rhymes scrutinising the Monarchists.

Galois rebelled at school after rumours spread that it was to be handed back to the Jesuits (a powerful and scheming Catholic society). The battle between the Republicans and the Monarchists was still raging at this time, and any influence from the Priests and Jesuits would shift emphasis towards the restoration of the monarchy again, and many pupils were expelled after refusing to comply to the new power within the school. Galois, however was not expelled, yet seeing the expulsion of many of his peers would have reinforced his strong Republican views.

Galois mathematical ability soon outstripped that of his tutors, and he turned to educate himself from books written by the the most accomplished mathematicians of the day, and at the age of 17 he published his first paper in the respected journal Annales de Gergonne.However this would see a departure from a potentially bright mathematical career into a life of dissolution after his father’s tragic suicide following a smear campaign by Jesuits to dishonour his name, writing libelous letters to members of his constitution, and signing them as his father.

Following the death of his father at the hands of those loyal to the monarchy, and teamed with Galois possession of rashness and a quick temper, the following years were spent in anti-monarchist riots, and in jail.

Galois had a fatal affair with Stéphanie-Félicie Poterine du Motel, who was engaged to one of the finest shots in France Pscheux d’Herbinville, when d’Herbinvelle found out about the affair, he challenged Galois to a duel.

On the evening before the confrontation, which Galois believed to be his last, he wrote all his mathematical theories and thoughts onto paper in a desperate attempt to pass on his knowledge which he had accumulated, to be given to all the greatest mathematicians in Europe. The paper, which can be found today, is flooded with desperate remarks and references to a ‘woman’.

On Wednesday 30 May 1832, they fought, and d’Herbinville shot Galois in the stomach and left Galois to die, he was found later by his brother and taken to a hospital, however he died a day later.

Galois’ life was tragic, short and very turbulent, however, throughout this Galois was consistently a hotty. This is a moral for all our readers; you can still fight against the machine; you can avenge your father’s death; you can be a mathematical genius and you can enter an ill-advised affair with the fiancée of one of the best shots in Paris - but, you can still be a hotty.

Tom x