Bonaventura Cavalieri

Bonaventura Francesco Cavalieri, who lived from 1598 to 30 November 1647, was an Italian mathematician and a member of the Jesuate order, which is not to be confused with the Jesuits. Born in Milan, he joined the Jesuates at fifteen, took the name Bonaventura, and studied geometry at the University of Pisa, where he came under Benedetto Castelli, who probably introduced him to Galileo. After several rejected applications he was appointed to the Chair of Mathematics at the University of Bologna in 1629, with the support of Galileo. He is known for his work on optics and motion, for his method of indivisibles, a precursor of infinitesimal calculus, and for introducing logarithms to Italy. Cavalieri principle in geometry partly anticipated integral calculus. Gout restricted his movements from 1626 and arthritis later prevented him from writing.