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Born
Pierre Maurice Marie Duhem was born to Pierre-Joseph Duhem his father and Alexandrine Fabre his mother. They were a flemish Family and he was the oldest of 4 boys. He was born in Paris. -
Study of Science at École Normale
Pierre's parents both wanted him to attend different schools for different reasons. His dad wanted him to follow his steps and study science at École Polytechnique. His mother however felt that studying science would turn him away from their Roman Catholic beliefs. -
Doctoral thesis on electrochemical cells
In his 3rd year at École Normale, Pierre Published his first paper on electrochemical cells. This was not common at the time as he had not even finished school. He was criticizing Berthelot’s theory putting out a correct alternative to it. Berthelot was a very influential person and managed to have his paper rejected. -
Le Potentiel Thermodynamique
Pierre knew that he was correct in his first rejected research paper and resubmitted it in 1886. Berthelot was now the French Minister of Education. During this time Pierre started working on his second thesis. This time it was on magnetism. -
Professor , Lille University of Science and Technology Lille, France
While teaching at Lille he lectured on hydrodynamics, elasticity, and acoustics. While teaching here he met his wife Adèle Chayet in October 1890. She passed away in 1892 along with their second daughter. -
Professor , University of Rennes Rennes, France
Pierre did not stay at this university long. He discovered that they did not have the proper equipment for his type of science. He promptly asked for a transfer to another university. -
Period: to
Professor , University of Bordeaux Bordeaux, France
He was a professor of theoretical physics from 1894-1916. -
Death
Pierre Duhem passed away in the town of Cabesprine. His Fathers family was originally from this town as well. Pierre spent most of his summers here in a family home that they still maintained.