John napier family
- •
John Napier (1555-1617)
Famous for:
- Inventing logarithms
- Bringing the decimal point into common use
- Inventing a portable calculating tool – 'Napier's bones'.
Napier was a hugely influential figure in the 17th century. He is widely considered to be the first Scotsman to have made a significant contribution to scientific learning.
He was respected by mathematicians and scientists worldwide, notably Galileo, Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton.
Napier invented logarithms in 1614. This new method of calculation allowed people to solve long, laborious arithmetical problems much more quickly and easily. It was particularly useful in navigation and astronomy.
Schools and workplaces universally used adaptations of Napier's logarithmic tables right up to the 1970s, when electronic pocket calculators were widely adopted.
Studied in Europe
John Napier was born into a wealthy and privileged family at Merchiston, Edinburgh. He spent a short time at St Andrews University. Around 1564, he left to study in Europe, on the advice of his uncle, the Bishop of Orkney.
As well a
- •
John Napier
Scottish mathematician (1550–1617)
For other people with the same name, see John Napier (disambiguation).
John Napier of Merchiston (NAY-pee-ər;[1]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.
John Napier is best known as the discoverer of logarithms. He also invented the so-called "Napier's bones" and made common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics.
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 at the west side of Edinburgh.[2]
Life
Napier's father was Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston Castle, and his mother was Janet Bothwell, daughter of the politician and judge Francis Bothwell,[3] and a sister of Adam Bothwell who became the Bishop of Orkney. Archibald Napier was 16 years old when John Napier was born.[3 •
John Napier
Quick Info
Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh, Scotland Biography
John Napier's father, Archibald Napier, was an important man in late 16th century Scotland. His family had owned the Merchiston estate from the 1430s when one of his ancestors acquired the estate, becoming the first Napare of Merchiston. (We shall comment shortly on the different spellings of Napier's name.) The family also owned estates at Lennox and at Menteith and a residence at Gartness. Archibald Napier married Janet Bothwell, the sister of the Bishop of Orkney, in 1549 when he was only 15 years old. Their son John Napier was born the following year. Archibald Napier was a justice-depute and was knighted in 1565. He was appointed Master of the Mint in 1582.
Before continuing we should comm
Copyright ©tubglen.pages.dev 2025