Jean Mathieu de Chazelles

Jean Mathieu de Chazelles (24 July 1657 – 16 January 1710) was a French hydrographer born in Lyon.

Jean Mathieu de Chazelles
Born(1657-07-24)24 July 1657
Died16 January 1710(1710-01-16) (aged 52)
Known forMeasuring the Pyramids
AwardsMember of the French Academy of Sciences
Scientific career
FieldsHydrography
InstitutionsMarseilles
Notable studentsLouis Feuillée

He was nominated professor of hydrography at Marseilles in 1685, and in that capacity carried out various coast surveys. In 1693 he was engaged to publish a second volume of the Neptune français, which was to, include the hydrography of the Mediterranean. For this purpose he visited the Levant and Egypt. When in Egypt he measured the pyramids, and, finding that the angles formed by the sides of the largest were in the direction of the four cardinal points, he concluded that this position must have been intended, and also that the poles of the earth and meridians had not deviated since the erection of those structures.[1]

He was made a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1695, and died in Paris on 16 January 1710.[1]

The botanist and explorer Louis Feuillée was one of his pupils.

References

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  1. ^ a b   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chazelles, Jean Mathieu de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 20.