Jacob Bernoulli (also referred to as Jacques or James) was born in Basel Switzerland on December 27, 1654, the first of the famous Bernoulli family of Swiss mathematicians. He first studied theology, but then against his father's wishes, turned to mathematics, astronomy, and physics. Bernoulli was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Basel in 1687.
Bernoulli's mathematical work mostly involved the new theory of calculus. He worked on infinite series, conics, cycloids, transcendental curves, isoperimetry, isochronous curves, catenaries, and the logarithmic spiral, publishing his results widely in Acta Eruditorum. Bernoulli also wrote what is considered the second book devoted to probability, Ars Conjectandi, which was published after his death in 1713. Bernoulli formulated the version of the law of large numbers for independent trials, now called Bernoulli trials in his honor, and studied the binomial distribution.
Jacob Bernoulli died on August 16, 1705 in Basel. The logarithmic spiral is carved into his tombstone.