In 1808 his father died, and a year later Gauss's wife Johanna died after giving birth to their second son, who was to die soon after her. Gauss was shattered and wrote to Olbers asking him to give him a home for a few weeks,
Sa 1808 ng kanyang ama namatay, at sa isang taon mamaya gauss ng asawa Johanna namatay pagkatapos ng panganganak sa kanilang pangalawang anak na lalaki, na noon ay upang mamatay sa lalong madaling panahon pagkatapos ng kanyang.