Lorenzo Mascheroni

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Lorenzo Mascheroni

1750-1800

Italian mathematician best known for calculating Euler's constant to 32 decimal places. Although only 19 places were correct, his approach helped advance understanding of Euler's calculus. Mascheroni taught algebra and geometry in Pavia, where he was ordained as a priest. He also proved that all Euclidean shapes and objects can be constructed using only a compass, a discovery that was first made in 1672 by the relatively unknown Dutch mathematician Georg Mohr.