John Napier

Renowned as the discoverer of the logarithm and inventor of "Napier's bones," Napier was a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchiston. He was the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston. John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer of the logarithm, although the actual founder of logarithms was Michael Stifel, who invented an early form of logarithm tables independently of and decades before Napier.

Napier was the inventor of the so-called "Napier's bones." He also made common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics. Napier's birthplace, the Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the facilities of Edinburgh Napier University. After he died primarily of the disease of gout, his remains were buried in St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh.