ORIGINS OF MODERNITY

cosmology & astronomy

Maupertuis (1698-1759)
La figure de la terre.
Figure of the earth, determined from observations made by order of the French king, at the polar circle
London : Printed for T. Cox ... C. Davis ... J. and P. Knapton ... and A. Millar ..., 1738

This English translation of Maupertuis' tract on the figure, or shape, of the Earth. Maupertuis supported Newton's position that the Earth was a spheroid flattened towards the poles against Cassini's view that the Earth was a long spheroid. Marvellously written, it invokes the dangers of their voyage to Lapland to enhance the authority of their findings.