Mihailo Petrovic
Encyclopedia
Mihailo Petrović Alas (1868–1943), was an influential Serbia
n mathematician and inventor. He was also a distinguished professor at Belgrade University, an academic of the Serbian Royal Academy, and a fisherman. He was a student of Henri Poincaré
, Charles Hermite
and Charles Émile Picard
. Petrović contributed significantly to differential equations and phenomenology, as well as inventing one of the first prototypes of an analog computer
.
, as a first child of Nikodim, professor of theology, and Milica (née Lazarević).
He finished the First Belgrade Gymnasium
in 1885, and afterwards enrolled at Natural science-Mathematical section of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. He finished his studies in 1889. Subsequently, in September 1889, he went to Paris
to receive further education, and prepare for entering exam for École Normale Supérieure
. He got a degree in mathematical sciences from Sorbonne University in 1891. He worked on preparing his doctoral dissertation, and on June 21, 1894 he defended his PhD degree at the Sorbonne, and received a title Docteur des sciences mathematiques (doctor of mathematical sciences). His doctorate was in field of differential equations.
In 1894. Mihailo Petrović became a professor of mathematics at the Belgrade Higher School. In those days, he was one of the greatest experts for differential equations in the world. He held lectures until his retirement in 1938. In 1897, he became associate member of the Serbian Royal Academy and associate member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb
. He became a full member of the Serbian Royal Academy in 1899, when he was only 31.
He was very interested in fishery, and thus his nickname, Alas (river fisherman). In 1882, he became fisherman apprentice, and in 1895 he had an exam for fisherman master. He played violin, and in 1896, he founded musical society named Suz. Mihailo Petrović Alas constructed a hidrointegrator, and won gold medal on World exposition in Paris 1900. When in 1905 the Great School was transformed into University of Belgrade
Petrović was among first eight regular professors, that elected other professors.
Alas published a large number of inventions, scientific works, books and journals from his sea expeditions. He received numerous awards and acknowledgments and was a member of several foreign science academies (Prague
, Bucharest
, Warsaw
, Kraków
) and scientific societies. In 1927, when Jovan Cvijić
died, members of the Serbian academy proposed Mihailo Petrović for the new president of academy, but authorities did not accept this proposal. Probable reason for this was the fact that Mihailo Petrović Alas was a close friend of the prince Đorđe P. Karađorđević, king's brother, that was arrested in 1925, and was held in house arrest. In 1931, members of the academy, unanimously proposed Alas for the president of the academy, but authorities again dismissed this proposal.
In 1939, Alas became honorary doctor of the Belgrade University. In the same year, he received order of the Saint Sava
of the first class. He also founded the Belgrade school of mathematics, that produced a number of mathematicians that continued Alas's work. All doctoral dissertations defended on the Belgrade University since 1912 until the Second World War were under his mentorship.
He participated in Balkan Wars
and in First World War as an officer, and after the war he was reserve officer.
Alas practised cryptography
, and his cipher systems were used in Yugoslav army for a long time (until WWII). When the Second World War broke out in Yugoslavia, he was again called into the army and Germans captured him. After a while, he was released, because of illness. On June 8, 1943, professor Mihailo Petrović died in his home in Kosančićev Venac Street in Belgrade
.
Alas was a passionate traveller, and he visited both North and South pole. Mihailo Petrović got nickname "Alas" because of his passion for fishery. He was not only aficionado, but expert as well, so he participated in talks for legislature of the Fishery convention with Romania
, and in talks with Austria-Hungary about the protection of fishery on Sava
, Drina and Danube rivers.
IX-th Belgrade Gymnasium "Mihailo Petrović Alas" is a high school in Belgrade, Serbia named after him.
Edition of the complete works:
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n mathematician and inventor. He was also a distinguished professor at Belgrade University, an academic of the Serbian Royal Academy, and a fisherman. He was a student of Henri Poincaré
Henri Poincaré
Jules Henri Poincaré was a French mathematician, theoretical physicist, engineer, and a philosopher of science...
, Charles Hermite
Charles Hermite
Charles Hermite was a French mathematician who did research on number theory, quadratic forms, invariant theory, orthogonal polynomials, elliptic functions, and algebra....
and Charles Émile Picard
Charles Émile Picard
Charles Émile Picard FRS was a French mathematician. He was elected the fifteenth member to occupy seat 1 of the Académie Française in 1924.- Biography :...
. Petrović contributed significantly to differential equations and phenomenology, as well as inventing one of the first prototypes of an analog computer
Analog computer
An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously-changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved...
.
Life
Alas was born on April 24, 1868, in BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, as a first child of Nikodim, professor of theology, and Milica (née Lazarević).
He finished the First Belgrade Gymnasium
First Belgrade Gymnasium
First Belgrade Gymnasium is a grammar school with a long tradition, founded in 1839, in Belgrade . It is located in the center of Belgrade, in 61 Cara Dušana Street, the place where once stood the Vidin Gate through which people could enter Belgrade. Near the school, the Church of Aleksandar Nevski...
in 1885, and afterwards enrolled at Natural science-Mathematical section of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. He finished his studies in 1889. Subsequently, in September 1889, he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to receive further education, and prepare for entering exam for École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
. He got a degree in mathematical sciences from Sorbonne University in 1891. He worked on preparing his doctoral dissertation, and on June 21, 1894 he defended his PhD degree at the Sorbonne, and received a title Docteur des sciences mathematiques (doctor of mathematical sciences). His doctorate was in field of differential equations.
In 1894. Mihailo Petrović became a professor of mathematics at the Belgrade Higher School. In those days, he was one of the greatest experts for differential equations in the world. He held lectures until his retirement in 1938. In 1897, he became associate member of the Serbian Royal Academy and associate member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. He became a full member of the Serbian Royal Academy in 1899, when he was only 31.
He was very interested in fishery, and thus his nickname, Alas (river fisherman). In 1882, he became fisherman apprentice, and in 1895 he had an exam for fisherman master. He played violin, and in 1896, he founded musical society named Suz. Mihailo Petrović Alas constructed a hidrointegrator, and won gold medal on World exposition in Paris 1900. When in 1905 the Great School was transformed into University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
Petrović was among first eight regular professors, that elected other professors.
Alas published a large number of inventions, scientific works, books and journals from his sea expeditions. He received numerous awards and acknowledgments and was a member of several foreign science academies (Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
) and scientific societies. In 1927, when Jovan Cvijić
Jovan Cvijic
Jovan Cvijić was a Serbian geographer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences, and rector of the University of Belgrade. A world-renowned scientist, Cvijić is considered the founder of geography in Serbia.-Early life and family:Jovan Cvijić was born on October 11 Jovan Cvijić...
died, members of the Serbian academy proposed Mihailo Petrović for the new president of academy, but authorities did not accept this proposal. Probable reason for this was the fact that Mihailo Petrović Alas was a close friend of the prince Đorđe P. Karađorđević, king's brother, that was arrested in 1925, and was held in house arrest. In 1931, members of the academy, unanimously proposed Alas for the president of the academy, but authorities again dismissed this proposal.
In 1939, Alas became honorary doctor of the Belgrade University. In the same year, he received order of the Saint Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
of the first class. He also founded the Belgrade school of mathematics, that produced a number of mathematicians that continued Alas's work. All doctoral dissertations defended on the Belgrade University since 1912 until the Second World War were under his mentorship.
He participated in Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and in First World War as an officer, and after the war he was reserve officer.
Alas practised cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
, and his cipher systems were used in Yugoslav army for a long time (until WWII). When the Second World War broke out in Yugoslavia, he was again called into the army and Germans captured him. After a while, he was released, because of illness. On June 8, 1943, professor Mihailo Petrović died in his home in Kosančićev Venac Street in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
Alas was a passionate traveller, and he visited both North and South pole. Mihailo Petrović got nickname "Alas" because of his passion for fishery. He was not only aficionado, but expert as well, so he participated in talks for legislature of the Fishery convention with Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and in talks with Austria-Hungary about the protection of fishery on Sava
Sava River
The Sava is a river in Southeast Europe, a right side tributary of the Danube river at Belgrade. Counting from Zelenci, the source of Sava Dolinka, it is long and drains of surface area. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia, along the northern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and through Serbia....
, Drina and Danube rivers.
IX-th Belgrade Gymnasium "Mihailo Petrović Alas" is a high school in Belgrade, Serbia named after him.
Selected works (in Serbian)
- Đerdapski ribolovi u prošlosti i sadašnjosti
- Jegulje
- Kroz polarnu oblast
- U carstvu gusara
- Sa okeanskim ribarima
- Po zabačenim ostrvima
Edition of the complete works:
- Book 1: Diferencijalne jednacine I
- Book 2: Diferencijalne jednacine II
- Book 3: Matematicka analiza
- Book 4: Algebra
- Book 5: Matematicki spektri
- Book 6: Matematicka fenomenologija
- Book 7: Elementi matematicke fenomenologije
- Book 8: Intervalna matematika - diferencijalni algoritam
- Book 9: Elipticke funkcije - integracija pomocu redova
- Book 10: Clanci - Studije
- Book 11: Putopisi I
- Book 12: Putopisi II
- Book 13: Metafore i alegorije - clanci
- Book 14: Ribarstvo
- Book 15: Mihailo Petrovic (pisma, bibliografija i letopis)