German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss original name Johann Friedrich Carl Gauss (1777–1855) made significant contributions to a wide range of disciplines, including number theory, algebra, geometry, astronomy, and physics. He is regarded as one of history's greatest mathematicians.

On April 30, 1777, Gauss was born in Brunswick, Germany. His mother was the daughter of a bricklayer, and his father worked as a gardener. Despite coming from a lowly family, Gauss excelled in mathematics from a young age. He fixed a maths error his father had made when he was three years old. He had already surpassed his maths teacher by the time he was eight.

At the University of Göttingen, Gauss pursued a formal education while studying under the mathematician Abraham Gotthelf Kästner. With his groundbreaking contributions to number theory, Gauss quickly established a reputation in the mathematics community. He first published "Disquisitiones Arithmeticae" in 1796, and it is still regarded as a masterpiece of number theory.

Gauss' contributions to algebra and geometry are equally as important as his work in number theory. The Gaussian elimination algorithm, a technique for resolving linear equation systems, is credited to him as its creator. He also created the idea of modular arithmetic, which has uses in both computer science and cryptography.

Gauss also made significant contributions to astronomy. The idea that the asteroids in our solar system are the remains of a larger planet that broke up was first put forth by him. He made important discoveries in the field of optics, such as the law of least squares, which is used to find the line that best fits a given set of data.

Gauss was an accomplished physicist in addition to his contributions to mathematics and science. He made important contributions to the understanding of magnetism and electricity. He is credited with developing the electromagnetic telegraph, which Samuel Morse later improved.

Over 300 papers were published during the lifetime of Gauss, who was a prolific writer. His contributions have had a significant influence on science, maths, and technology. He is considered to be one of the greatest minds in history thanks to his contributions to number theory, algebra, geometry, astronomy, and physics.

Gauss was renowned for his extraordinary mental prowess. He was said to be able to add numbers from 1 to 100 more quickly than most people could write them down. He was also able to perform intricate mathematical calculations in his head. Gauss was renowned for having an exceptional memory. He once reportedly had the ability to recite a book he had read years earlier in its entirety.

Gauss was renowned for his humility and lack of conceit despite his accomplishments. He once remarked that "number theory is the queen of mathematics, and mathematics is the queen of the sciences." He held that the pursuit of knowledge was more significant than fame or personal acclaim.

On February 23, 1855, Gauss passed away in Göttingen, Germany. His contributions to numerous branches of science and mathematics continue to this day. Mathematicians and scientists all over the world continue to be inspired by and challenged by his work.