Lazare Nicolas Marguerite, Comte Carnot, was born on 13 May 1753 in Nolay, Burgundy, to Claude Carnot and Marguerite Pothier. He was the second of seven children. At fourteen, he attended the Collège d'Autun, focusing on philosophy and classics, and later studied under the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice, where he learned logic, mathematics, and theology. Encouraged by the duc d'Aumont, he pursued a military career, entering the École royale du génie de Mézières in 1771, where he graduated as a first lieutenant in 1773. He served in the engineer corps of Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé, and published his first work, 'Essay on Machines,' in 1784, which earned him recognition from the Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon.Carnot entered politics in 1791 as a delegate for Pas-de-Calais to the Legislative Assembly, where he advocated for educational reforms. After the Assembly's dissolution, he was elected to the National Convention in September 1792. He played a significant role in the military defense of France and voted for the execution of Louis XVI. In August 1793, he joined the Committee of Public Safety, where he implemented mass conscription, transforming the French Revolutionary Army into a formidable force. His organizational skills and military strategies earned him the title 'Organizer of Victory' as he oversaw significant military successes from 1793 to 1794.Disillusioned with the radical politics of the Montagnards, Carnot distanced himself from Maximilien Robespierre and contributed to Robespierre's downfall in 1794. He became one of the five initial members of the Directory in 1795 but was ousted in 1797 during the Coup of 18 Fructidor, leading to his exile in Geneva. He returned to France in 1800 under Napoleon Bonaparte, briefly serving as Minister of War. Despite his republican beliefs, he withdrew from public life after Napoleon's coronation in 1804 but returned to serve during the defense of Antwerp in 1812 and as Minister of the Interior during the Hundred Days in 1815. Following the second Bourbon Restoration, he was exiled again and died in Magdeburg, Prussia, on 2 August 1823.In addition to his political and military career, Carnot was a prominent mathematician. His 1803 work, 'Géométrie de position,' is recognized as a foundational text in projective geometry. He introduced the concept of the cross-ratio and contributed to various theorems in geometry. His ideas on fortification, particularly the Carnot wall, influenced military engineering in the 19th century. Carnot's legacy includes his advocacy for public education and military service for citizens, as well as his contributions to mathematics and engineering theory.

Shop

Lazare Carnot