[János Bolyai's health according to his military files].
János Bolyai (1802-1860) one of the greatest mathematicians of the 19th century, the founder and inventor of non-Euclidean geometry, was born in Transylvania, as son of a Hungarian nobleman and scientist, Farkas Bolyai. Having finished his studies at the Academy for Engineering Corps in Vienna, he joined the army. From 1823 to 1833 he served at different places all over the the Empire. Being however physically and mentally unbalanced, he underwent several medical examinations during his military service. Based on archival documents and files of medical examinations and on those of the following resolutions, the author of the present article gives a comprehensive and very detailed account of the young genius's military career and on the circumstances determining his mental activities while creating the most admirable mathematical theory of the age.
Acs
Tibor
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Museum for Military History, Budapest, Hungary.
D049672:History, 19th Century; D006814:Hungary; D008433:Mathematics / Q000266:history*; D008499:Medical Records; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history*