Sophie Germain was born on April 1, 1776 the daughter of a merchant, Ambroise-Francois Germain. Outside of her work, her life was to be dominated by the turmoil of the French Revolution.

When Sophie Germain's father found out she was obsessed with mathematics , he confiscated her candles and put out the fire in her bedroom. But after she was discovered one morning fast asleep at ...