[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Gassendi
Né le 22 janvier 1592 au village de Champtercier, près de Digne, l’astronome Pierre Gassendi est une figure de la vie intellectuelle parisienne, dans le cercle de savants qui préfigure l’Académie des sciences. Nommé en 1645 titulaire de la chaire de mathématiques du Collège royal, ce "grand homme en petite taille" est "un abrégé de vertu morale et de toutes les belles sciences, mais entre autres, d’une grande humilité et bonté, et d’une connaissance très sublime dans les mathématiques" selon son confrère Gui Patin, pourtant peu porté à l’indulgence.

[Portrait of Pierre Gassendi]

Il passe les deux dernières années de sa vie ici, chez son ami Henri Habert de Montmor, maître des requêtes et généreux mécène, et meurt le 24 octobre 1655.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign is located near the place where the French philosopher, astronomer and physicist Pierre Gassendi (1655-1592) lived for the last two years of his life

The house itself (Montmor House) which belonged to Gassendi ’s friend and patron (as indicated on the sign), is commemorated on a sign on the other side of the gate Click for sign's details

The house was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

Pierre Gassendi’s portrait, which appears in the center of the plaque, is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:

[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Pierre Gassendi
Born on January 22, 1592 in the village of Champtercier, near Digne, the astronomer Pierre Gassendi was a figure in Parisian intellectual life, in the circle of scientists who prefigured the Academy of Sciences. Appointed in 1645 as holder of the chair of mathematics at the Royal College, this "great man in small stature" is "an epitome of moral virtue and all the beautiful sciences, but among other things, of great humility and kindness, and of a very sublime knowledge in mathematics" according to his colleague Gui Patin, who is nevertheless not inclined to indulgence.

[Portrait of Pierre Gassendi]

He spent the last two years of his life here, with his friend Henri Habert de Montmor, master of requests and generous patron, and died on October 24, 1655.