Contents
Andrew Wiles
Proving Fermat’s Last Theorem after it had resisted mathematicians for more than three centuries.
First announcement · Completed proof
- Born
- 11 April 1953
- Birthplace
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
More people
Andrew Wiles
Wiles solved a famously simple-looking problem through deep connections between elliptic curves and modular forms. His proof grew from a childhood fascination into years of largely private research.
Early life
A library discovery
Encountered Fermat’s Last Theorem in a library book when he was ten.
Number theory training
Studied at Oxford and completed doctoral research at Cambridge under John Coates.
Career
- 1982
Princeton professor
Joined Princeton’s faculty as a specialist in number theory.
- 1986
Private research
Began concentrating on the route from elliptic curves to Fermat’s Last Theorem.
- 2011
Return to Oxford
Moved back to Oxford after his long Princeton career.
Contributions
First announcement
Presented a proposed proof, in which a gap was subsequently found.
Completed proof
Published the repaired argument, including joint work with Richard Taylor.
Abel Prize
Received the prize for his proof and the mathematical tools it introduced.
Beyond mathematics
Family life
Married molecular biologist Nada Canaan; they have three daughters.
Recognition
Was knighted in 2000 for his contribution to mathematics.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗University of St Andrews biography ↗Institutional biography and contributions ↗Oxford appointment ↗Photo: "copyright C. J. Mozzochi, Princeton N.J". Attribution · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
