French Sophie Germain’s taste for number theory was awakened by reading the works of Legendre and Gauss. She went on to correspond regularly with the two mathematicians, although she did not have the heart to reveal to Gauss that she was a woman: she wrote under the male pseudonym Antoine-Auguste Le Blanc.
When Napoleon occupied the city of Braunschweig, Germany, where Gauss lived, worried Germain interceded for the safety of the mathematician with General Pernety, a family friend. Pernety sent one of his officers to meet with Gauss.
This one was fine, but was confused to learn that he was being protected by a Frenchwoman he had never heard of. It wasn’t until three months later that Sophie had the courage to reveal her identity. “How can I describe my amazement and admiration to see my esteemed M. Le Blanc metamorphosed into this highly praised person?…” replied Gauss. “When a woman, because of her sex, our customs and prejudices, finds infinitely more obstacles to acquaint herself with the theory of numbers, and yet overcomes difficulties and penetrates what is hidden, she certainly has the noblest of courage, extraordinary talent, and superior genius,” he added.
Around 1809, the French Academy of Sciences launched a competition to “create a mathematical theory of the vibration of an elastic surface and compare the theory with experimental evidence”. Two contestants appeared, Germain and Dennis Poisson, but the latter was elected a member of the Academy, leaving her as the only candidate.
Her 1811 work contained errors, and so did her second attempt, in 1813. But in 1816 she finally succeeded, becoming the first woman awarded the French Academy of Sciences. In the meantime, Poisson had published her own work on the subject, so they share the honor of being founders in the field.
Despite the award, Germain was still not able to participate in the Academy’s sessions: only women who were wives of academics were allowed. This only changed in 1823, when Joseph Fourier got an exception so that she could participate as a guest.
In 1829, Germain was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the pain, she continued working. She published her last research papers in 1831, the year she died. In 2003, the French Academy of Sciences created a scientific award named after her.
