COURNOT Augustin Exposition de la théorie des chances et des probabilités.

D.S.B., III, p.450.

First edition.

French economist and mathematician, Cournot was born at Gray (Haute-Saône) on the 28th of August’ 1801. Trained for the scholastic profession, he was appointed assistant professor at the Academy of Paris in 1831, professor of mathematics at Lyons in 1834, rector of the Academy of Grenoble in 1835, inspector-general of studies in 1838, rector of the Academy of Dijon and honorary inspector general in 1854, retiring in 1862. He died in Paris on the 31st of March 1877. Cournot was the first who, with a competent knowledge of both subjects, endeavoured to apply mathematics to the treatment of economic questions.

“Cournot’s work on the “theory of chance occurences” … is important in the history of the calculus of probability, since it examines in an original way the interpretation and foundations of this calculus and its applications” (D.S.B.)

A fine copy.