ARAGO, JEAN FRANÇOIS DOMINIQUE. — French physicist and astronomer, born at Estagel, near Perpignan in the Pyrenees, on 27 Feb. 1786, died in Paris on 2 Oct. 1853. He made notable discoveries in physics, especially in optics (theory of the polarization of light), in electricity, and in magnetism. His greatest merit remains perhaps that of having fully appreciated and encouraged in their researches Ampère and Fresnel. He was an eloquent popularizer of science and enjoyed great fame during his lifetime. He published a treatise on popular astronomy and numerous biographies of scientists.
One could not today repeat the praise written by Napoleon III: «Vous êtes l'axe, autour duquel se meut le monde scientifique». But he always demonstrated a sincere and disinterested love for science and for truth. He encouraged the researches and experiments of young scholars. He sometimes had occasion to defend Catholic scholars unjustly attacked for their religious opinions.
After 1830 he devoted himself to politics and served as French Minister of the Navy.