Concept
Charles-Jean Étienne Gustave Nicolas, baron de la Vallée Poussin (ʃaʁl ʒɑ̃ etjɛn ɡystav nikɔla baʁɔ̃ də la vale pusɛ̃; 14 August 1866 – 2 March 1962) was a Belgian mathematician. He is best known for proving the prime number theorem. The King of Belgium ennobled him with the title of baron. De la Vallée Poussin was born in Leuven, Belgium. He studied mathematics at the Catholic University of Leuven under his uncle Louis-Philippe Gilbert, after he had earned his bachelor's degree in engineering. De la Vallée Poussin was encouraged to study for a doctorate in physics and mathematics, and in 1891, at the age of just 25, he became an assistant professor in mathematical analysis. De la Vallée Poussin became a professor at the same university (as was his father, Charles Louis de la Vallée Poussin, who taught mineralogy and geology) in 1892. De la Vallée Poussin was awarded with Gilbert's chair when Gilbert died. While he was a professor there, de la Vallée Poussin carried out research in mathematical analysis and the theory of numbers, and in 1905 was awarded the Decennial Prize for Pure Mathematics 1894–1903. He was awarded this prize a second time in 1924 for his work during 1914–23. In 1898, de la Vallée Poussin was appointed as the correspondent to the Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences, and he became a Member of the Academy in 1908. In 1923, he became the President of the Division of Sciences. In August 1914, de la Vallée Poussin escaped from Leuven at the time of its destruction by the invading German Army of World War I, and he was invited to teach at Harvard University in the United States. He accepted this invitation. In 1918, de la Vallée Poussin returned to Europe to accept professorships in Paris at the Collège de France and at the Sorbonne. After the war was over, de la Vallée Poussin returned to Belgium, The International Union of Mathematicians was created, and he was invited to become its President. Between 1918 and 1925, de la Vallée Poussin traveled extensively, lecturing in Geneva, Strasbourg, and Madrid.
