Karl Mikhailovich Peterson (25 May 1828 – 1 May 1881) was a Russian mathematician, known by an earlier formulation of the Gauss–Codazzi equations.

He studied at the Gymnasium of Riga and, after, in the university of Dorpat (now Tartu under Ferdinand Minding.

In unknown date he went to Moscow where he taught in the German Gymnasium Peter and Paul of this city from 1865.

[2] Peterson never had an academic position at university level, but he was one of the founders of the Moscow Mathematical Society with Nikolai Brashman and August Davidov.

Peterson was a notable collaborator in the journal of the Society and he is considered the founder of the Moscow school of geometry.