Paolo Ruffini

Paolo Ruffini
Portrait of Paolo Ruffini by Biagio Magnanini, Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Born(1765-09-22)22 September 1765
Valentano, Papal States (now in Italy)
Died10 May 1822(1822-05-10) (aged 56)
Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio (now in Italy)
Resting place
Santa Maria della Pomposa, Modena
Alma materUniversity of Modena
Known forAbel–Ruffini theorem
Ruffini's rule
Work on group theory
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics
InstitutionsUniversity of Modena
Doctoral advisor
  • Paolo Cassiani
  • Luigi Fantini
  • Giovanni Battista Venturi
Notable students
Giovanni Battista Amici
President of the Accademia nazionale delle scienze
In office
3 September 1816 – 10 May 1822
Preceded byAntonio Cagnoli
Succeeded byLuigi Rangoni
Signature

Paolo Ruffini (22 September 1765 – 10 May 1822) was an Italian mathematician and philosopher. Remembered chiefly for what is now known as the Abel–Ruffini theorem, Ruffini also made a major contribution to the theory of equations, developing the so-called theory of substitutions, the forerunner of modern group theory.