Jonas Kubilius Biography

Jonas Kubilius was a Lithuanian mathematician known for his work in probability theory and number theory. An educator by profession, he worked as a lecturer and professor at various prestigious institutions including the Vilnius University and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. He was also the rector of the Vilnius University for 32 years. Born into a farming family in a village in Lithuania, he began displaying his brilliance at a young age. Even as a school boy he loved to study and was especially interested in science and mathematics. He understood mathematical concepts with outstanding clarity and even helped his teacher in explaining difficult mathematic equations to fellow students while in school. He seemed to be on the right track to make a brilliant career for himself when the political situation in Europe became increasingly tense. In spite of the turbulent political atmosphere he bravely continued his studies, graduated from high school, and enrolled at the Vilnius University to further his education. Eventually he embarked on a teaching career and continued his own education by working for a Doctor of Science degree from the Steklov Institute of Mathematics in Moscow. Later on he joined the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences where he promoted his scientific work in the areas of number theory and probability theory