Gerardus Mercator (Born 1512) was born in Rupelmonde, Belgium. He died in Duisburg, Germany in 1594. He was a cartographer, whose most significant creation was a map in which meridians and parallels are spaced in such a way as to produce, at any point, an accurate longitude to latitude ratio. Mercator is also the one who introduced the term atlas for a collection of maps. Shortly before he was born, his family had moved to Flanders from Germany. Mercator was educated in Hertogenbosch, and received training in Latin, dialectics, and Christian doctrine. In 1530 the artist entered the Catholic University of Leuven where he studied philosophy and the humanities and graduated in 1532 with a master’s degree. About this time religious doubts assailed him, for he could not reconcile the Aristotle account of the origin of the universe with the biblical account.
After 2 years of study which led him to Mechelen and Antwerp he emerged with less interest in philosophy. He managed to get away from his personal crisis and fortified in his faith. Under the guidance of Frisius Gemma, a physician and astronomer and who was also the top theoretical mathematician in the Low Countries, Mercator managed to master the essentials of astronomy, geography, and mathematics. Mercator and Gemma also frequented the workshop of an engraver and goldsmith called Gaspar à Myrica. These three men made Leuven to be an important center for the construction of astronomical instruments, maps, and globes. Their works are still popular to date.
