Gustaf Eneström

Who was Gustaf Eneström?

Gustaf Hjalmar Eneström was a Swedish mathematician, statistician and historian of mathematics known for introducing the Eneström index, which is used to identify Euler's writings. Most historical scholars refer to the works of Euler by their Eneström index. With Soichi Kakeya, he is known for the Eneström-Kakeya theorem which determines an annulus containing the roots of a real polynomial.

Eneström received a Bachelor of Science degree from Uppsala university in 1871, received a position at Uppsala University Library in 1875, and at the National Library of Sweden in 1879. Within the history of mathematics, he was known as critical to Moritz Cantor.

From 1884 to 1914, he was the publisher of the mathematical-historical journal Bibliotheca Mathematica, which he had founded and partially funded with his own means.

In 1923 George Sarton wrote

"no one has done more for the sound development of our studies". Sarton went on: "the very presence of Eneström obliged every scholar devoting himself to the history of mathematics to increase his circumspection and improve his work."