John Napier
John Napier | |
|---|---|
1616 portrait of Napier | |
| Born | 1 February 1550 |
| Died | 4 April 1617 (aged 67) Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Known for | Logarithms Napier's bones Decimal notation Spherical trigonometry |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematician |
John Napier of Merchiston (/ˈneɪpi.ər/ NAY-pee-ər; Latinized as Ioannes Neper; 1 February 1550 – 4 April 1617), nicknamed Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish landowner known as a mathematician, physicist and astronomer. He was the 8th Laird of Merchiston. Napier is best known as the discoverer of logarithms. He also invented the Napier's bones calculating device and popularised the use of the decimal point in arithmetic.
Napier's birthplace, Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh, is now part of the facilities of Edinburgh Napier University. There is a memorial to him at St Cuthbert's Parish Church at the west end of Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.