Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss was born on 30 April 1777 in Brunswick, in the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. His father, Gebhard Dietrich Gauss, held various low-status jobs, while his mother, Dorothea, was nearly illiterate. Gauss displayed prodigious mathematical talent from a young age, which led to his education at the Collegium Carolinum and later at the University of Göttingen, where he studied under notable figures such as Abraham Gotthelf Kästner and Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. He graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1799 from the University of Helmstedt, after which he received financial support from the Duke of Brunswick to pursue his studies as a private scholar.During his early career, Gauss made significant contributions to mathematics, including the proof of the fundamental theorem of algebra and the publication of his influential work, Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, in 1801. He also developed the law of quadratic reciprocity and made advancements in number theory, including the construction of the heptadecagon and the theory of binary and ternary quadratic forms. His work laid the foundation for many mathematical concepts that bear his name.In 1807, Gauss became a professor and director of the Göttingen Observatory, where he focused on astronomy and geodesy. He played a crucial role in the identification of the dwarf planet Ceres and developed methods for calculating the orbits of celestial bodies, including the Gaussian gravitational constant and the method of least squares. Gauss's contributions to geodesy included leading a major survey of the Kingdom of Hanover and inventing the heliotrope for precise measurements.Gauss's research extended to various fields, including differential geometry, where he published groundbreaking work on the curvature of surfaces. He also explored non-Euclidean geometry, coining the term and conducting studies that would later influence the field. His work in physics included significant contributions to magnetism and electromagnetism, collaborating with Wilhelm Weber to establish foundational principles in these areas.Throughout his life, Gauss was known for his perfectionism and reluctance to publish incomplete work, leaving many of his findings to be published posthumously. He was not an enthusiastic teacher, preferring to focus on his research, although he mentored several students who became prominent mathematicians. Gauss married twice, first to Johanna Osthoff, who died shortly after childbirth, and later to Wilhelmine Waldeck, with whom he had three more children. He faced personal challenges, including the illnesses of family members and financial difficulties after the death of the Duke of Brunswick.Gauss died on 23 February 1855 in Göttingen, where he was buried. His legacy includes numerous mathematical and scientific concepts named after him, reflecting his profound impact on mathematics, astronomy, and physics.