Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. He was a child prodigy educated primarily by his father. Some of Pascal's key contributions included developing Pascal's triangle to express binomial coefficients, inventing the syringe and hydraulic press, and establishing Pascal's law of fluid pressure. He also made advances in probability theory and the study of cycloids. Pascal invented an early mechanical calculator called the Pascaline to aid with mathematical computations. He made many contributions to science before his early death at age 39.