I'm speaking of a time that those under twenty cannot know...
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John Napier of Merchiston, the Scottish gentleman whose death four centuries ago is being commemorated this year, was no revolutionary. Yet his wondrous invention of logarithms made him one, opening up a new world for mathematics far beyond computation.
Logarithms emerged at the very beginning of the 17th century, thanks to the eccentric Scottish mathematician and theologian John Napier. By dramatically speeding up calculations, they paved the way for extraordinary scientific advances, particularly in astronomy.
To calculate faster and more accurately, humans created devices as ingenious as they were varied! It can be hard to imagine that, only a few centuries ago, machines were expensive and cumbersome. Sophisticated calculations were therefore the preserve of an elite.
Since antiquity, navigators have sought to find their position at sea, first developing instruments and then maps before the practice was standardized in the 19th century. This practical and strategic use of mathematics endured for centuries before other tools superseded it.
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