Person
John Napier
Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer and astrologer
John Napier of Merchiston (1550 – 4 April 1617) – also signed as Neper, Nepair – named Marvellous Merchiston, is a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer and astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchistoun.
He is the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston.
John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer of the logarithm, although the actual founder of logarithms was Michael Stifel who invented an early form of logarithm tables independently of and decades before John Napier.
Napier is the inventor of the so-called "Napier's bones".
Napier also makes common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics.
Napier's birthplace, the Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the facilities of Edinburgh Napier University.
After his death from the effects of gout, Napier's remains are buried in St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh.