Gerardus Mercator

Gerardus Mercator was bornMarch 1512 in Rupelmonde, County of Flanders . He diedDecember 1594 in Duisburg, Duchy of Cleves . He is renowned as the cartographer who created a world map based on a new projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing as straight linesan innovation which to this day enhances the simplicity and safety of navigation. In his own day he was the worlds most famous geographer but in addition he had interests in theology, philosophy, history, mathematics and magnetism as well as being an accomplished engraver, calligrapher and maker of globes and scientific instruments.

Mercator was a very devout Christian born into a Catholic family at a time when Luthers Protestantism was gaining ground. He never declared himself as a Lutheran but he was clearly sympathetic and he was accused of heresy . He spent six months in prison but he emerged unscathed. This period of persecution is probably the major factor in his move from catholic Louvain to a more tolerant Duisburg where he lived for the last thirty years of his life. Walter Ghim, Mercators friend and first biographer, describes him as sober in his behaviour, yet cheerful and witty in company, and never more happy than in debate with other scholars, but above all he was pious and studious until his dying days.

Source: Wikipedia