BAILLY, Jean-Sylvain. Paris 15.9.1736 — Paris 10.11.1793. French Mathematician, Astronomist and Historian of Astronomy. Son of Jacques Bailly, an artist, and Cécile Guichon. Attracted early attention with his scientific skill. From 1763 member of French Academy. Also a politician, participated in early revolution, but was then executed. In 1789-91 Mayor of Paris. Explained his theory about the (much too) high age of Indian astronomy already in his history of pre-Alexandrian astronomy in 1775, using the material collected by —> Le Gentil. Later he wrote a long monograph on the subject in 1787. Married.
Publications: Political speeches, eulogies, astronomical works.
– Histoire de l’astronomie ancienne. 527 p. P. 1775; Lettres sur l’origine des sciences, et sur celle des peuples de l’Asie. 348 p. L. 1777; Lettres sur l’Atlantide de Platon et sur l’ancienne histoire de l’Asie. 443 p. L. & P. 1779, English translation. 1-2. L. 1814.
– Traité de l’astronomie indienne et orientale. 180+427 p. P. 1787.
– Mémoires d’un témoin de la révolution. 1-3. P. XII [1804], 2nd ed. Mémoires de Bailly. 1-3. P. 1821-22.
Sources: Life in N.B.G., D.B.F.; *Dhruv Raina, “Betwixt Jesuit and Enlightenment Historiography: Jean-Sylvain Bailly’s History of Indian Astronomy.” Revue d’Histoire des Mathématiques 9, 2003, 253-306; *E.B. Smith, “J.-S.B.: Astronomer, mystic, revolutionary, 1736-1793”, TAPA N.S. 44, 1954; Wikipedia (with pictures and further references, see also French version); works in N.U.C.
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