Pedro Nunes
1502
-
1578
photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
country of citizenship: Kingdom of Portugal
languages spoken, written or signed: Portuguese
educated at: University of Salamanca, University of Coimbra, University of Lisbon
occupation: mathematician, geographer, astronomer, cosmographer, physician, philosopher, cartographer
Pedro Nunes (Portuguese: [ˈpeðɾu ˈnunɨʃ]; Latin: Petrus Nonius; 1502 – 11 August 1578) was a Portuguese mathematician, cosmographer, and professor, probably from a New Christian (of Jewish origin) family.Considered one of the greatest mathematicians of his time, Nunes is best known for his contributions to the nautical sciences (navigation and cartography), which he approached, for the first time, in a mathematical way. He was the first to propose the idea of a loxodrome, and was the inventor of several measuring devices, including the nonius (from which Vernier scale was derived), named after his Latin surname. Source: Wikipedia (en)
Human - wd:Q435718