Felix Bernstein | |
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| Born | (1878-02-24)24 February 1878 |
| Died | 3 December 1956(1956-12-03) (aged 78) Zürich, Switzerland |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen |
| Known for | Property B Cantor–Bernstein theorem Schröder–Bernstein theorem |
| Children | Marianne Bernstein-Wiener[1]: 7r |
| Awards | ICM Speaker (1908) |
| Scientific career | |
| Theses |
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| Doctoral advisor | David Hilbert |
Felix Bernstein (24 February 1878 – 3 December 1956), was a Germanmathematician known for proving in 1896 theSchröder–Bernstein theorem, a central result inset theory,[1]: 5–6 [2][3][note 1] and less well known for demonstrating in 1924 the correctblood group inheritance pattern of multiplealleles at onelocus throughstatistical analysis.
Felix Bernstein was born inHalle on 24 February 1878 to a Jewish family of academics.[4] His fatherJulius held the Chair of Physiology at theMartin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, and was the Director of the Physiological Institute at the University of Halle.
While still ingymnasium in Halle, Bernstein heard the university seminar ofGeorg Cantor, who was a friend of Bernstein's father.[1]: 5r From 1896 to 1900, Bernstein studied inMunich, Halle,Berlin andGöttingen.[5]: 166 In the earlyWeimar Republic, Bernstein temporarily was Göttingen vice-chairman of the local chapter ofGerman Democratic Party .[6]: 7 [7]: 118 [8]In 1933,[note 2]afterHitler's rise to power, Bernstein was removed from his chair, per §6 of the NaziLaw for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, often used against politically unpopular persons.He received the message of his dismissal during a research/lecturing journey (started on Dec. 1st, 1932) to the United States, and he stayed there.[5]: 166 [6]: 7–8 [8]
Bernstein was a visiting professor of mathematics atColumbia University from 1933 to 1936 and a professor ofbiometry atNew York University from 1936 to 1943.[9] In 1942 he was elected a fellow of theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science.[10] In 1948, Bernstein retired from teaching in the US, and returned to Europe.[2]He mainly lived inRome andFreiburg, occasionally visiting Göttingen,[5]: 166 where he becameprofessor emeritus.[2]He died inZürich on 3 December 1956.[1]: 6r [2]
