BornCrécy-en-Brie near Paris, France, 25 August 1699
Died Paris, France, 4 May 1768
As a member of the Académie royale des sciences, Charles-Étienne-Louis Camus took an active part in the scientific life of eighteenth-century Paris and is particularly known for his participation in the astronomical and geodesic program to define the shape of the Earth. He also contributed to clockmaking and mechanics.
Camus was the son of a surgeon. From an early age, he showed a special gift for mathematics, while being clever with his hands, making and repairing iron or wood objects. He persuaded his parents to let him study in the Collège de Navarre in Paris. After leaving the college, Camus continued mathematical studies on his own, later with the aid of Pierre Varignon, a member of the academy. He also began studies in geometry, civil and military architecture, mechanics, and astronomy.
In 1727 Camus presented a dissertation to the academy on ships’ masts; this work was appreciated by the academy,...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Selected References
Chapin, Seymour L. (1971). “Camus, Charles-Etienne-Louis.” In Dictionary of Scientific Biography, edited by Charles Coulston Gillispie. Vol. 3, pp. 38–40. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Lhuillier, Théophile. “Essai biographique sur le mathematicien Camus, né à Crécy-en-Brie.” In Almanach historique, topographique et statistique du départment de Seine-et-Marne et du diocèse de Meaux pour 1863.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Gros, M. (2014). Camus, Charles-Étienne-Louis. In: Hockey, T., et al. Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9917-7_234
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9917-7_234
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9916-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9917-7
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics