12-9-1911

Henri Poincare wrote the editor of a mathematical journal to ask if, contrary to custom, an unfinished piece of work could be published. He explained that at his age he may not be able to finish it, but that his work might provide ideas for another. The paper was published and not long afterwards George David Birkhoff (1884-1944) completed the solution. Poincare died suddenly on July 17, 1912.

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Henri Poincare
George David Birkhoff