Eric Heineman

Eric Heineman (October 7, 1863 - January 12, 1914) was born in the rural town of Kent, Czechoslovakia. He lived with his parents and sister until he was nineteen years old and then moved to Prague where he began his studies at Charles University. He received his mathematical studies doctorate in 1885 with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. He used his doctorate and knowledge to secure a teaching position at Charles University. While teaching, he developed more and more knowledge of mathematics and published his thoughts in many pamphlets which he handed out primarily to his students. His pamphlets contained information ranging from basic geometric formulas to his new ideas of trigonometric functions. It wasn't until 1896 before he was notably recognized for his work by the Dean of Charles University. Heineman was awarded teacher of the year and received a hefty salary raise to keep him teaching at Charles. But, in 1903 Heineman moved to the United States and began teaching at Yale University. There, he refined his knowledge with electrical engineering. He made various advances in the technology and usage of diodes, resistors and capacitors. He caught a bad case of meningitis in November of 1913 and died two months later.