Hilbert
Early Life and Education
David Hilbert was born on January 23, 1862, in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He was the son of Otto Hilbert, a judge, and Maria Therese Erdtmann. Hilbert attended the Friedrichskolleg Gymnasium (secondary school), but his family could not afford to send him to university. Instead, he studied mathematics and physics at the University of Königsberg, where he was influenced by Carl Gottfried Neumann, Ferdinand von Lindemann, and Adolf Hurwitz.
Career and Contributions to Mathematics
After completing his doctorate in 1885, Hilbert remained at the University of Königsberg as a Privatdozent (private lecturer). In 1892, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the University of Göttingen, where he would remain for the rest of his career. Hilbert's work has had a profound impact on a wide range of mathematical disciplines. His contributions include the development of invariant theory, the Hilbert's basis theorem, and the Hilbert space concept, which is fundamental to quantum mechanics.
Hilbert's Problems
In 1900, Hilbert presented a list of 23 unsolved problems at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris. Known as Hilbert's problems, these questions have guided much of the research in mathematics throughout the 20th century. Several of these problems, such as the Riemann Hypothesis, the continuum hypothesis, and the P vs NP problem, remain unsolved to this day.
Later Life and Legacy
Hilbert retired from the University of Göttingen in 1930. Despite the rise of the Nazi regime and the persecution of his Jewish colleagues, Hilbert remained in Germany until his death in 1943. His grave is marked by a simple stone with the inscription: "We must know. We will know." - a testament to his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
Hilbert's contributions to mathematics have been immense. His work has influenced a wide range of disciplines, from algebra and number theory to logic and the philosophy of mathematics. His legacy continues to inspire mathematicians around the world.