Galileo was a pioneer of modern applied mathematics, physics and astronomy.

Galileo's father, Vincenzo Galilei (c.1520 - 1591), who described himself as a nobleman of Florence, was a professional musician. He carried out experiments on strings to support his musical theories. Galileo studied medicine at the university of Pisa. After a spell teaching mathematics, first privately in Florence and then at the university of Pisa, in 1592 Galileo was appointed professor of mathematics at the university of Padua (the university of the Republic of Venice).

In the summer of 1609, Galileo heard about a spyglass that a Dutchman had shown in Venice. From these reports, and using his own technical skills as a mathematician and as a workman, Galileo made a series of telescopes.

Soon afterwards, Galileo became 'Mathematician and [Natural] Philosopher' to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. In Florence he continued his work on motion and on mechanics, and began to get involved in disputes about Copernicanism. In 1613 he discovere

There eventually followed some expression of interest by the Inquisition. Prima facie, Copernicanism was in contradiction with Scripture, and in 1616 Galileo was given some kind of secret, but official, warning that he was not to defend Copernicanism. Just

Galileo's sight was failing, but he had devoted pupils and amanuenses, and he found it possible to write up his studies on motion and the strength of materials. The book, Discourses on two new sciences , was smuggled out of Italy and publishe

Galileo wrote most of his later works in the vernacular, probably to distance himself from the conventional learning of university teachers. However, his books were translated into Latin for the international market, and they proved to be immensely influe

Article by: J.V. Field, London, August 1995

Other Web sites:

Florence, Italy
Rice University, USA
Clarke University, USA

References:

1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography
2. Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica
3. S Drake, Galileo Studies: Personality,
4. Tradition, and Revolution (1970).
5. S Drake, Galileo at Work: His Scientific Biography (1981).
6. S Drake, Galileo (1980).
7. C A Ronan, Galileo (1974).
8. L Geymonat, Galileo Galilei (New York, 1965).