Who proved the Portmanteau Theorem?

bickis@snoopy.usask.ca · science forum beginner Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

The so-called Portmanteau theorem gives alternative characterizations
of weak convergence of probability measures. I had figured that its
name is derived from the fact that it gathers together the different
"suits" of the concept into one theorem. Patrick Billingsley,
however, in "Convergence of Probability Measures", 2nd edition, gives a
reference to one Jean-Pierre Portmanteau, (1915) in the Annals of the
University of Felletin.

Is this a legitimate citation, or is it spurious, or a private joke?

I am suspicious for several reasons.

1. Portmanteau is an English word, meaning "suitcase". There is a
French word, spelled "portemanteau" which means "coat-rack". So if
there was such a person, would he not use the French spelling?

2. The title of the paper is "Espoir pour l'ensemble vide" --- "Hope
for the empty set" -- not what one would expect for a paper about weak
convergence.

3. The year of publication seems rather early for this concept.

4. I can't find any Université de Felletin on Google.

Does anyone know the history and provenance of this theorem, and its
name?

Mik

Herman Rubin · science forum Guru Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 730

In article <1145402006.904269.166180@z34g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
<bickis@snoopy.usask.ca> wrote:

Google