Johann Friedrich Pfaff

Johann Friedrich Pfaff
Johann Friedrich Pfaff
Born	(1765-12-22)22 December 1765 Stuttgart, Holy Roman Empire
Died	21 April 1825(1825-04-21) (aged 59) Halle, Germany
Nationality	German
Alma mater	University of Göttingen
Known for	Pfaffians Pfaffian constraint Pfaffian function Pfaffian system Pfaffian orientation
Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics
Institutions	University of Helmstedt Halle University
Doctoral advisor	Abraham Kästner Johann Elert Bode
Doctoral students	Carl Friedrich Gauss August Möbius Karl Mollweide
Other notable students	Johann Christian Martin Bartels

Johann Friedrich Pfaff (sometimes spelled Friederich; 22 December 1765 – 21 April 1825) was a German mathematician. He was described as one of Germany's most eminent mathematicians during the 19th century. He was a precursor of the German school of mathematical thinking, under which Carl Friedrich Gauss and his followers largely determined the lines on which mathematics developed during the 19th century.

They asked Laplace who, in his opinion, was the greatest mathematician of Germany. "It's Pfaff," he answered. - "I thought," the questioner replied, "that Gauss was superior to him." - "But," exclaimed Laplace, "you're asking me who is the greatest mathematician of Germany, and Gauss is the greatest mathematician of Europe."

— Nouvelle Biographie Générale, volume 19, page 686.