Alfred Kempe
was born 159 years ago
6th July 1849

Kempe published a false "proof" of the four colour theorem in 1879 which stood until Heawood showed the mistake 11 years later. The 'proof' is however still the basis for the computer aided proof discovered 100 years later.

Find out more at:
http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Mathematicians/Kempe.html