Bernhard Riemann (1826-1866), in an investigation of potential non-Euclidian
geometries, developed the Riemann Metric Tensor, a four by four
matrix of curvature indices to describe any point in a four-dimensional
system. The tensor contains sixteen values, though six of these are redundant,
making ten values in all. Anticipating Einstein, Riemann had invented this
tensor after being inspired by a two-dimensional universe in which warpage
of space dictates physical laws. Thus the tensor was perfecly suited to
describe Einstein's universe.
It has been noted that Riemann anticipated a great deal of modern physics
(Adapted from Hyperspace by Michi
Kaku):
1. he used higher-dimensional space to simplify the laws of nature,
including electricity, magnetism, and gravity.
2. He anticipated the concept of wormholes
3. He expressed gravity as a field.