> Painleve/ was a not very successful Premier of France. Laplace's
> political career was highly discreditable, but he is hardly a
> fair instance, since he was dishonest rather than incompetent,
> and never really 'gave up' mathematics.
which are highly tendencious. Laplace was a very short time (a few weeks)
Ministry of the Interior under Bonaparte Premier Consul, and about the only
decision he made was to get Bailly's widow a pension. For Painleve's political
carrier, it is a very complicated and long one (1910 - 1929), and I doubt
Hardy's opinion to be exempt of contemporary political arguments, despite
the fact that a good mathematician may not be a good judge on history,
especially on other country's one.
Udai Venedem
venedem@wanadoo.fr
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/alta.mathematica/