Who was Karl Gauss?

K. Gauss (1777-1855)

Karl Gauss was a German mathematician and astronomer, born in Brunswick. He was educated at the University of Gottingen and from 1807 until his death was direc­tor of the Gottingen Observatory. Gauss brought forth the method of least squares, discovered that a ar­ele can be divided into 17 equal ares by means of elementary geometry, invented a new method for calculating the positions of heavenly bodies, and became known as the founder of the mathematical theory of electricity.