Gerardus Mercator

Gerardus Mercator, also called Gerhard Kremer, and born Gérard de Crémère (1512 – 1594), was a Flemish geographer and  mathematician from Belgium. He explored Flanders and made globes about the earth and the sky. He became one of the best mapmakers of the 16th century.  The Mercator projection that has his name is a flat map projection of the features of the surface of the earth that can be seen and made only mathematically. It was found to be excellent for navigating on oceans and is still used today. In 1585 he began a great atlas that was later finished by his son. His last years he used for studying theology.

Mercator was born in Rupelmonde and died in Duisburg.

 Other websites 
 Turn the pages of the British Library's Mercator Atlas of Europe (c.1570) 
 Mercator's Atlas 


Category:1512 births
Category:1594 deaths
Category:Belgian mathematicians
Category:Flemish people
Category:European geographers
Category:People from East Flanders