A Little About Blaise Pascal’s Father
Etienne Pascal
Etienne Pascal was the father of Blaise Pascal. Etienne was trained in law in
Paris, receiving his degree in 1610. He returned to his home town of Clermont were he
bought the post of counsellor. He came from a wealthy family so he had an ample
amount of money without earning a living.
In 1631 he went to Paris so that his son could have the best education and he
devoted himself to Blaise’s education there. In 1634 he was appointed to a committee set
up by Cardinal Richelieu to judge whether Morin’s scheme for determining longitude
from the moon’s motion was practical.
From about his time he became involved with Mersenne’s meetings.
Through these he collaborated with Roberval, Desargues and Mydorge. Etienne also
held a number of government appointments and a court official. Etienne is famed as the
discoverer of the curve the Limacon of Pascal. The curve, so named by Roberval, can be
used to trisect an angle
