Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) was born at Wismar, Germany. After studying at the famous university of Jena and Göttingen, he became lecturer and then professor in mathematics at Jena. His lifelong interests and contributions, however, were always deeply philosophical; he founded modern mathematical logic, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophy of language. In the introduction to his groundbreaking Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (The Basic Laws of Arithmetic, 1848), for instance, he warns that "mathematicians reluctant to venture into the labyrinths of philosophy are requested to leave off reading...."

bio by Daniel Kolak in Lovers of Wisdom
(Wadsworth, 1997)