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Die Werke von Jakob Bernoulli edited by David Speiser

Jacob studied theology at Basel and at the same time taught himself mathematics. After a short period as a private tutor in Geneva and France, he travelled through the Netherlands, England and Germany. During this journey he became acquainted with the contemporary mathematics and physics of Descartes, Huygens, Wallis and Barrow. In 1687 Jacob was appointed to the chair of mathematics at the University of Basel. In the following years he rediscovered, together with his brother Johann, the secrets of Leibniz's calculus and began a correspondence with Leibniz. Jacob published his discoveries in more than sixty papers in the scientific journals of his time. For himself, he recorded his thoughts in a scientific diary (Meditationes), which is an outstanding testimony to his mathematical genius. Jacob published no books; his Ars Conjectandi remained unfinished and did not appear until eight years after his deat,h. Recognized as one of the greatest mathematicians of his time, Jacob died in Basel in 1705.
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