Fuchs, Immanuel Lazarus (1833-1902)

German mathematician whose work on Georg Riemann's method for the solution of differential equations led to a study of the theory of functions that was later crucial to Henri Poincaré in his investigation of function theory. Fuchs was born in Moschin (now in Poland), and studied at Berlin, where he became professor 1866. After holding posts at Göttingen and Heidelberg, he returned to Berlin 1882. The first proof for solutions of linear differential equations of order n was developed from his study of functions, as were the Fuchsian differential equations and the Fuchsian theory on solutions for singular points. His work in this field was of great importance to Poincaré's work on automorphic functions. Fuchs also carried out some research into number theory and geometry.