Georges Lemaître

Description: (Scientist & Priest)

Georges Lemaitre was a Belgian scientist who propounded some of the most important theories in cosmology and astronomy in a career that spanned a better part of four decades. Lemaitre was also a priest and was in fact courted by Vatican to become a researcher on contraception. Pope John XXIII named him a prelate in 1960, however it was as a scientist that he made his name and his earliest theories on the ‘expansion of the universe’ was published in a Belgian scientific journal in 1927 and throughout his life he continued to conduct research on the subject that made him one of the most influential scientists of his generation. Lemaitre was also responsible for the study that later came to be known as Hubble’s Law but his contribution towards the discoveries in cosmology were not acknowledged at the time. He used Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in his research and came up with the theory that was discovered by Hubble two years after him. Georges Lemaitre taught at the Catholic University of Leuven and stayed with the university throughout his professional life. Lemaitre also had a profound interest in new technology and was enthusiastic about the development of computers and calculators.

Overview

Birthday July 17, 1894 (Cancer)
Alternative names Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître
Died on June 20, 1966
Parents

Did you know

What is Georges Lemaître known for? Georges Lemaître is known for proposing the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.
What was Georges Lemaître's occupation? Georges Lemaître was a Belgian Catholic priest, astronomer, and professor of physics.
What is the significance of Georges Lemaître's work in cosmology? Georges Lemaître's work in cosmology is significant because he was the first to propose the theory of the expanding universe and the primeval atom hypothesis, which later became known as the Big Bang theory.
How did Georges Lemaître's research impact the field of astrophysics? Georges Lemaître's research had a significant impact on the field of astrophysics by providing a scientific basis for the origin of the universe and laying the groundwork for modern cosmology.
What is the Lemaitre crater on the moon named after? The Lemaitre crater on the moon is named after Georges Lemaître in recognition of his contributions to the field of cosmology and astrophysics.
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