Marin Mersenne , born 8 September 1588 , in modern-day Sarthe , died 1 September 1648 , in Paris was a French theologian and mathematician . Marin Mersenne , Marin Mersennus or le PÃ re Mersenne ( September 8 , 1588 -- September 1 , 1648 ) was a French theologian , philosopher , mathematician and music theorist , often referred to as the `` father of acoustics '' .