Étienne Bobillier

Étienne Bobillier (17 April 1798 to 22 March 1840) was a French mathematician, born in Lons-le-Saunier, who is noted for his work on geometry, particularly the algebraic treatment of geometric surfaces and the polar of curves, and who also worked on statics and the catenary. At nineteen he was accepted into the École Polytechnique and studied there for a year, but a shortage of money made him an instructor of mathematics in 1818 at the École des Arts et Métiers in Châlons-sur-Marne. In 1829 he was sent to Angers as director of studies, and the next year he served in the National Guard during the 1830 revolution. In 1832 he returned to Châlons after his post was abolished and was promoted to professor. He kept teaching despite poor health and died at Châlons at forty one. A lunar crater bears his name.