The Creation
Guillaume-François-Antoine Marquis de l'Hôpital was born in Paris France in the year 1661. He died 43 years later on Febuary 2nd, 1704. He was born into a noble family and at an early age, his interest in mathematics grew. Initially, Guillaume joined the military but he had to leave due to his nearsightedness and once again pursued his interest in mathematics. He met Johann (John) Bernoulli in Paris and Bernoulli agreed to give him private lessons in mathematics. Bernoulli and L’Hopital both signed a contract allowing L’Hopital the right to use Bernoulli’s discoveries as he pleased. And thus although this mathematical calculation is called L’Hospital’s Rule, Swiss mathematician, John Bernoulli was the first to discover the rule. However L’Hopital states in letter to Leibniz and others “I recognize I owe much to Messrs. Bernoulli’s insights, above all to the young (John), currently a professor in Groningue. I did unceremoniously use their discoveries, as well as those of Mr. Leibniz. For this reason I consent that they claim as much credit as they please, and will content myself with what they will agree to leave me”. L’Hospital’s Rule was first published in 1696 in the calculus textbook Analyse des Infiniment Petitis. (O'Conner)