Jean-François Lemaire
In 1838, a decree organized the École des Arts et Manufactures et des Mines into a triple structure: a École spéciale des Arts et Manufactures and a École spéciale des Mines, both preceded by a 2-year preparatory school. Jean-François Lemaire was appointed Inspector during his rectorate.
Born in Ghent in 1797, Jean-François Lemaire gave up the study of belles-lettres to devote himself to mathematics, due to a difficult family situation. He entered the university of his native city and was awarded the title of candidate in physical sciences and mathematics in 1818. He taught at the Royal College of Ghent before obtaining his doctorate in mathematical sciences and natural philosophy in 1821.
Professor at the Athénée Royal in Tournai, then Professor Extraordinaire at the University of Ghent (1826), Lemaire made a name for himself with his research into differential equations. In 1827, he published De Meetkunst op de Kunsten en ambachten toegepast, the fruit of his teaching of geometry applied to the arts and industrial mechanics, thus contributing to the development of technological training for workers.
After the suppression of the Faculty of Sciences in Ghent (1830), he was put in charge of introductory courses in higher mathematics and differential and integral calculus in Liège. Appointed full professor in 1835, he took charge of courses in analysis and analytical mechanics. Rector in 1838-1839, in the same year he became Inspector of the Ecole Préparatoire des Mines, before being appointed Secretary of the Conseil de Perfectionnement des Ecoles Spéciaux in 1842.
His many scientific activities did not, however, prevent him from cultivating a love of both ancient and modern belles-lettres. Admitted to emeritus in 1847 for health reasons, he died at Grammont five years later.
