Home > Vito Volterra

Born in Ancona, then part of the Papal States, into a very poor famiily, Volterra showed early promise in mathematics before attending the University of Pisa, where he fell under the influence of Enrico Betti, and where he became professor of rational mechanics in 1883. He immediately started work developing his theory of functionals which led to his interest and later contributions in integralIn mathematics, an integral equation is an equation in which an unknown function appears under an integral sign. There is a close connection between differential and integral equations, and some problems may be formulated either way. Integral equations ar and integro-differential equations. His work is summarised in his book Theory of Functionals and of Integral and Integro-Differential Equations ( 19301930 is the common year starting on Wednesday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 6 The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed ( Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 G).

In 1892Events January 1 Ellis Island begins accepting immigrants to the United States. January 14 Death of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, second in line heir to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Next in line is his younger b, he became professor of mechanics at the University of TurinThe University of Turin Universita degli Studi di Torino UNITO) is the university of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy. It consists currently of 12 faculties. History It was founded as a studium in 1404. From 1427 to 1436 the seat of the and then, in 19001900 is the common year starting on Monday. see link for calendar) For the film, see 1900 (film). Events January January 1 Nigeria becomes British protectorate January 2 John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China. January 2 Chicag, professor of mathematical physics at the University of Rome . Volterra had grown up during the final stages of the Risorgimento when the Papal States were finally annexed by Italy and, like his mentor Betti, he was an enthusiastic patriot, being elected as a senator of the Kingdom of Italy in 1905. In the same year, he began to develop the theory of dislocations in crystals that was later to become important in the understanding of the behaviour of ductile materials. On the outbreak of World War I, already well into his 50s, he joined the Italian Army and worked on the development of airships under Giulio Douhet. He originated the idea of using inert helium rather than flammable hydrogen and made use of his leadership abilities in organising its manufacture.

After World War I, Volterra turned his attention to the application of his mathematical ideas to biology, principally reiterating and developing the work of Pierre François Verhulst. The most famous outcome of this period is the Volterra-Lotka equations.

In 1922, he joined the opposition to the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and in 1931 refused to take a mandatory oath of loyalty. He was compelled to resign his university post and membership of scientific academies, and, during the following years, he lived largely abroad, returning to Rome just before his death.