Viktor Bunyakovsky, 1846

BUNYAKOVSKY, Viktor Yakovievich (1804-1889). Osnovania matematicheskoy teorii veroyatnostey [Foundations of the mathematical theory of probability] St. Petersburg, Imperial Academy of Sciences: 1846.

First edition of the first Russian work on probability, and Bunyakovsky’s principal work on number theory, statistics and probability theory. "Bunyakovsky produced many works on number theory and in particular solved a series of specific equations and gave a new proof for the law of quadratic reciprocity ... His contributions to number theory include a work (1846) in which he gave an original exposition of this science and of its application to insurance and demography" (DSB).The Department of Probability was created at St Petersburg University as early as 1830, and Bunyakovsky was its first head. He sought to adapt Laplace’s Théorie analytique des probabilités (1812) for Russian mathematicians and statisticians. He developed Russian terminology for the theory of probability, much of which is still in use today. According to O. Sheynin, Bunyakovsky applied Laplace’s theory to applied mathematics and statistics, and in particular to the statistical control of quality (O. B. Sheynin, "On V. Y. Buniakovsky’s work in the theory of probability," Archive for the History of Exact Science, 43 (3) (1991) p 205). "The prime impetus for the initial development in the 1820s of probability theory in the Russian Empire (putting aside the eighteenth-century contributions of Leonhard Euler and Daniel Bernoulli) was the need for a proper basis for actuarial and demographic work, and for the statistical treatment of observations generally. Pierre Simon Laplace’s classic work on probability (Théorie analytique des probabilités, 1812), which initiated the Paris school of probabilistic investigations, not only laid foundations for the subject, but also contained applications to real-world situations. Its ideology was brought to the Russian Empire, partly in response to the statistical needs mentioned above, by Viktor Yakovlevich Bunyakovsky (1804–89) [who had studied under Cauchy in Paris and translated the Résumé into Russian] … Bunyakovsky’s prime achievement was the first treatise on probability in the Russian language (Bunyakovsky 1846). Its aim was the simplification and classification of existing theory; its lasting achievement was the creation of a Russian probabilistic terminology" (E. Seneta in History and philosophy of the mathematical sciences, pp 1325–26). Some 60 pages are devoted to the analysis of election results and legal decisions. He also discusses demographics, population increase, compiling mortality tables, etc. Bunyakovsky received his doctorate in mathematics at Paris in 1825, where his advisor was Cauchy. Upon his return to St Petersburg he devoted the rest of his life to research and teaching. He was elected vice-president of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and held the post for 25 years. Among his numerous outstanding pupils was Pafnuty Lvovich Chebychev (1821-1894), one of Russia’s greatest mathematicians.

Quarto (272 x 206 mm). Half-title, one plate at rear (some foxing internally). Contemporary quarter sheep (rubbed and worn, small piece at head of spine missing). Provenance: Russian ownership stamps (some deleted) to several pages. [Bound with:] CHEBYCHEV, Pafnuty Lvovich (1821-1894). Sur l’interpolation dans le cas -d’un grand nombre de données fournies par les observations. St Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences, 1859.