(1623-1662)
A French physicist and Roman Catholic. Attended meetings of the Academy of Science with his father, and his scientific curiosity was aroused at an early age. Invented a calculating machine for his father, a tax collector, and discovered basic principles of atmospheric and hydraulic pressures. While recovering from a hip injury, was won over by Jansenists and became an avid student of Scripture. After a brief bout of disillusionment when his father died and his sister joined a convent, he was reconciled with God on November 23, 1654. Joined Arnauld as an advocate in his case against the Jesuits, his writings condemned by the Pope.
[tags]Blaise-Pascal, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, history, Jesuits[/tags]
