Biography
Career:
David Hilbert was the first of two children, born in 1862 in Konigsberg, Germany. He started school at the Friedrichskolleg Gymnasium, then transferred to Wilhelm Gymnasium, which was more science based. He then graduated, and enrolled at the University of Königsberg in 1880. In 1882, Hermann Minkowski enrolled at the university, and in 1884, Adolf Hurwitz enrolled. Throughout Hilbert's career, the three mathematicians worked together on various ideas and benefited each other greatly. Hilbert earned his doctorate in 1885 and remained at the university as a senior lecturer from 1886-1895. He then left to teach at The Göttingen school, and while there he taught a laundry list of students who would go on to be famous mathematicians. He also edited the most popular mathematical journal of the time, the Mathematische Annalen. He was forced to retire as a professor from Göttingen in 1930, as Hitler was beginning to mandate that Jews could not teach. In 1933, the Nazis purged the school of Jews, and when asked by the new Minister of Education "How is mathematics in Göttingen now that it has been freed of the Jewish influence?" Hilbert replied, "Mathematics in Göttingen? There is really none any more." Hilbert was actively opposed to the Nazi purge of Jewish people, and passed away in 1943. By the time he died, the Nazis had almost completely restaffed Göttingen, as most of the staff was either Jewish or married to a Jew. His funeral was attended by less than a dozen people, most of which were fellow academics. The world did not learn of his death until half a year after he passed away.
Family:
Hilbert married a woman named Käthe Jerosch, and they had one son, Franz. Franz had an undiagnosed mental illness and he was a major dissapointment to Hilbert and his Associates at Göttingen. Little about his personal life is known, other than that he liked to bike and ski to lecture.
David Hilbert was the first of two children, born in 1862 in Konigsberg, Germany. He started school at the Friedrichskolleg Gymnasium, then transferred to Wilhelm Gymnasium, which was more science based. He then graduated, and enrolled at the University of Königsberg in 1880. In 1882, Hermann Minkowski enrolled at the university, and in 1884, Adolf Hurwitz enrolled. Throughout Hilbert's career, the three mathematicians worked together on various ideas and benefited each other greatly. Hilbert earned his doctorate in 1885 and remained at the university as a senior lecturer from 1886-1895. He then left to teach at The Göttingen school, and while there he taught a laundry list of students who would go on to be famous mathematicians. He also edited the most popular mathematical journal of the time, the Mathematische Annalen. He was forced to retire as a professor from Göttingen in 1930, as Hitler was beginning to mandate that Jews could not teach. In 1933, the Nazis purged the school of Jews, and when asked by the new Minister of Education "How is mathematics in Göttingen now that it has been freed of the Jewish influence?" Hilbert replied, "Mathematics in Göttingen? There is really none any more." Hilbert was actively opposed to the Nazi purge of Jewish people, and passed away in 1943. By the time he died, the Nazis had almost completely restaffed Göttingen, as most of the staff was either Jewish or married to a Jew. His funeral was attended by less than a dozen people, most of which were fellow academics. The world did not learn of his death until half a year after he passed away.
Family:
Hilbert married a woman named Käthe Jerosch, and they had one son, Franz. Franz had an undiagnosed mental illness and he was a major dissapointment to Hilbert and his Associates at Göttingen. Little about his personal life is known, other than that he liked to bike and ski to lecture.