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John Napier
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John Napier

Scottish mathematician
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Also known as: John Neper
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John Napier
John Napier
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Category: Science & Tech
Napier also spelled:
Neper
Born:
1550, Merchiston Castle, near Edinburgh, Scotland
Died:
April 4, 1617, Merchiston Castle (aged 67)
Subjects Of Study:
Napier’s bones
calculation
decimal fraction
logarithm
Role In:
Reformation
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John Napier (born 1550, Merchiston Castle, near Edinburgh, Scotland—died April 4, 1617, Merchiston Castle) was a Scottish mathematician and theological writer who originated the concept of logarithms as a mathematical device to aid in calculations. At the age of 13, Napier entered the University of St. Andrews, but his stay appears to have been short, and he left without taking a degree. Little is known of Napier’s early life, but it is thought that he traveled abroad, as was then the custom of the sons of the Scottish landed gentry. He was certainly back home in 1571, and he stayed ...(100 of 984 words)

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