John Napier
John Napier (he also signed as Neper, and Nepair)[1] 1550 – 4 April 1617) was a Scottish landowner, nicknamed "Marvellous Merchiston". He was a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He was the 8th Laird of Merchiston. His Latinized name was Ioannes Neper.
John Napier | |
|---|---|
 John Napier (1550–1617) | |
| Born | 1550 |
| Died | 4 April 1617 (aged 66–67) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Known for | Logarithms Napier's bones Decimal notation |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematician |
| Influenced | Henry Briggs |
John Napier is best known as the discoverer of logarithms and Napier's constant. He also invented the so-called "Napier's bones" and made common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics.[2]
John Napier Media
Statue of John Napier, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Merchiston Castle from an 1834 woodcut
Memorial to John Napier in St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh
Cover of Mirifici logarithmorum canonis descriptio (1614)
Page from Mirifici logarithmorum canonis descriptio, for 45 degrees
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References
