Blaise Pascal (/pæˈskæl/ pass-KAL, also UK: /-ˈskɑːl, ˈpæskəl, -skæl/ -KAHL, PASS-kəl, -kal, US: /pɑːˈskɑːl/ pahs-KAHL; French: [blɛz paskal]; 19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. Throughout his life, Pascal was in frail health, especially after the age of 18; he died just two months after his 39th birthday.