Jean Van Heijenoort (1912–1986)

This chapter presents information on Jean Van Heijenoort (1912–1986). He was born in 1912, in Creil, France, in the region of the Oise River. He was best known as a logician, philosopher, and editor and historian of mathematical logic. But he also had two other quite different careers to which he devoted a good part of his life and energy. In the years between 1932 and 1946 he was a full-time political activist committed to the ideals of Marxism as set forth by Leon Trotsky; and from 1940 until his death, he was an historian and archivist of political history. Jean van Heijenoort's most important scholarly contributions are in the history and philosophy of logic. The chapter also includes his curriculum vitae and paper publications. Jean van Heijenoort was killed in tragic circumstances on March 29, 1986 during a brief visit to Mexico City.