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John Napier's work
inspired many mathematicians, including Henry Briggs, professor of
geometry at Gresham College, and later on at Oxford. Following two
visits to Edinburgh to consult with Napier, Briggs devised a system of
common logarithms with a decimal base. In 1624, Briggs published
Logarithmic Arithmetic (Arithmetica Logarithmica), which contained contained the logarithms of
30000 natural numbers computed to 14 places. Napier himself had been
influenced by the work of Flemish scientist Simon Stevinus who, in 1585,
had developed a decimal fraction system; Napier eliminated the use
of notation to indicate fractional position, and he popularized the use of
the decimal point. In addition to the Mirifici logarithmorum canonis descriptio, Napier also published The Art of Logic (De arte logistica), Rabdology, Study of Divining Rods (Rabdoligae seu numerationis per vigulas libri duo), in which he explains the usage of Napier's rods, and also The Art of Logic (De arte logistica), (1573 but not published until 1839). Like many scientists, Napier took it upon himself to design machines intended to be used in warfare. He produced a list of “devices for sailing under water, with divers other devises and stratagems for harming the enemyes.” These included a giant mirror which would act like to reflect the sun's rays upon incoming ships, burning them the same way a magnifying glass is used to burn a hole in paper; he also dreamt up machines that would go underwater, to protect against incoming vessels, and tank-like machines that could fire in all directions at once. Napier died on April 4th, 1617, in Edinburgh, Scotland, probably from complications arising from his being afflicted with gout. The whereabouts of his remain are to this day uncertain. John Napier was indeed a very important man, important for Scotland, and the world. His continuous quest for efficiency and his ingenious ways have no doubt eased the tasks of mathematicians and scientists in for hundreds of years after his passing. |
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