Friedrich Robert Helmert (31 July 1843 – 15 June 1917) was a German geodesist and statistician with important contributions to the theory of errors.

After a year's study of mathematics and astronomy Helmert obtained his doctor's degree from the University of Leipzig in 1867 for a thesis based on his work for Nagel.

Part I is devoted to the mathematical aspects of geodesy and contains a comprehensive summary of techniques for solving for geodesics on an ellipsoid.

From 1887 Helmert was professor of advanced geodesy at the University of Berlin and director of the Geodetic Institute.

[4] There is an obituary at There is a photograph of Helmert at and three more at See also The first edition of Helmert's textbook on least squares is available at the GDZ site A partial scan of Die mathematischen und physikalischen Theorieen der höheren Geodäsie (Part I) is available on the site English translations (by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, St. Louis) of Parts I and II of Die mathematischen und physikalischen Theorieen der höheren Geodäsie are available at There is an account of Helmert's work on the theory of errors in section 10.6 of For eponymous terms in statistics see