BERNOULLI (DANIEL), a celebrated physician and philosopher, and son ofJohn Bernoulli last mentioned, was born at Groningen, February the 9th, 1700, where his father was then professor of mathe matics. He was intended by his father for trade, but his genius led him to other pursuits. He passed some time in Italy ; and at 24 years of age he declined the honour offered him of becoming presi dent of an academy intended to have been established at Genoa. He spent several years with great credit at Petersburgh ; and in 17.33 returned to Basil, where his father was then professor of mathema tics; and here our author successively filled the chair of physic, of natural and of speculative philsosphy.
Daniel Bernoulli wrote a multitude of pieces, which have been published in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and in those of other academies. He gained and divided ten prizes from the Academy of Sciences, which were con tended for by the most illustrious mathe maticians in Europe. The only person who has had similar success, in the same line, is Euler, his countryman, disciple, rival, and friend. His first prize he gain ed at 24 years of age. In 1734 he di vided one•with his father, which hurt the family union ; for the father considered the contest itself as a want of respect ; and the son did not sufficiently conceal that he thought (what was really the case) his own piece better than his fa ther's. And besides, he declared for New ton, against whom his father had contend ed all Isis life. In 1740, our author di
vided the prize, "On the Tides of the Sea," with Euler and Maclaurin. The Academy at the same time crowned a fourth piece, the chief merit of which was that of being a Cartesian : but this was the last public act of adoration paid by the Academy to the authority of the au thor of the Vortices, which it had obeyed but too long. In 1748, Daniel Bernoulli succeeded his father John in the Acade my of Sciences, who had succeeded his brother James ; this place, since its first erection in 1699, having never been with out a Bernoulli to fill it.
Our author was extremely respected at Basil ; and to bow to Daniel Bernoulli, when they met him in the streets, was one of the first lessons which every father gave every child. He was a man of great simplicity and modesty of manners. He used to tell an anecdote, which he said had given him more pleasure than all the other honours he had received. Travel ling with a learned stranger, who, being pleased with his conversation, asked his name ; " I am Daniel Bernoulli," answer ed he, with great modesty ; " And I," said the stranger (who thought he meant to laugh at him), " am Isaac Newton." After a long, useful, and honourable life, Daniel Bernoulli died the 17th of March, 1782, in the 83d year of his age.