Timeline 1646Born on 1 July in Leipzig, in the Holy Roman Empire. 1661Enters the University of Leipzig, aged 14. 1666Publishes De arte combinatoria. Leipzig refuses him a doctorate in law; Altdorf awards it the following year. 1672Goes to Paris on a diplomatic mission. Begins to study mathematics seriously with Christiaan Huygens. 1673Presents his calculating machine in London and is elected to the Royal Society. 1675In manuscripts of October and November, creates the symbols $\int$ and $d$. 1676Moves to Hanover, where he will work as librarian and counsellor for 40 years. 1684Publishes the first paper on differential calculus in the journal Acta Eruditorum. 1700Founds the Berlin Academy of Sciences and becomes its first president. 1703Publishes his explanation of binary arithmetic. 1716Dies on 14 November in Hanover. ◀ Previous Follow the journey Next ▶ 1646–1666 LeipzigHe is born and studies in Leipzig. The university refuses him a doctorate in law, saying he is too young. 1666–1667 AltdorfHe obtains his doctorate within a few months, near Nuremberg, and turns down the professorship he is offered. 1668–1672 MainzHe enters the service of the Prince-Archbishop of Mainz as a jurist and adviser. 1672–1676 ParisHe arrives on a diplomatic mission and learns mathematics from Christiaan Huygens. In 1675 he creates the symbols $\int$ and $d$. 1673 LondonHe shows his calculating machine at the Royal Society and is elected a fellow. 1676 The HagueOn his way to Hanover he visits the philosopher Baruch Spinoza. 1676–1716 HanoverLibrarian and adviser to the dukes for forty years. He publishes the calculus (1684) and binary arithmetic (1703). He dies in 1716. 1687–1690 RomeHe travels for three years through archives in Germany, Austria and Italy to write the history of the ducal family. 1700 BerlinHe founds the Berlin Academy of Sciences and becomes its first president. Enable JavaScript to see the map. The stages are listed below. The journeys of Leibniz, diplomat, librarian and mathematician. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors