Lazare Nicolas Marguerit Carnot

1753-1823

French military engineer who is known in France as the military genius of the French Revolution (1787-99).

Carnot also made significant contributions to mathematics, especially geometry. After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Carnot was exiled and eventually settled in Prussia. His study of the steam engine most certainly influenced his son Sadi Carnot, who later wrote the classic work on thermodynamics.