John Napier (1550–1617) is celebrated today as the man who invented logarithms—an enormous intellectual achievement that would soon lead to the development of their mechanical equivalent in the slide rule: the two would serve humanity as the principal means of calculation until the mid-1970s. Yet, despite Napier’s pioneering efforts, his life and work have not attracted detailed modern scrutiny. John Napier is the first contemporary biography to take an in-depth look at the multiple facets of Napier’s story: his privileged position as the eighth Laird of Merchiston and the son of influential Scottish landowners; his reputation as a magician who dabbled in alchemy; his interest in agriculture; his involvement with a notorious outlaw; his staunch anti-Catholic beliefs; his interactions with such peers as Henry Briggs, Johannes Kepler, and Tycho Brahe; and, most notably, his estimable mathematical legacy.
Julian Havil explores Napier’s original development of logarithms, the motivations for his approach, and the reasons behind certain adjustments to them. Napier’s inventive mathematical ideas also include formulas for solving spherical triangles, "Napier’s Bones" (a more basic but extremely popular alternative device for calculation), and the use of decimal notation for fractions and binary arithmetic. Havil also considers Napier’s study of the Book of Revelation, which led to his prediction of the Apocalypse in his first book, A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John—the work for which Napier believed he would be most remembered.
John Napier assesses one man’s life and the lasting influence of his advancements on the mathematical sciences and beyond.
"In this engaging book, we learn more about Napier the mathematician, the religious zealot, the person."--Devorah Bennu, The Guardian, Grrl Scientist
"I'm sure after reading this entertaining and enjoyable book, Napier will climb some rungs on your ladder of famous mathematicians."--A. Bultheel, European Mathematical Society
"Havil is an enthusiastic and engaging writer--he brings to life John Napier’s original work and gives an account of his mathematical ideas. Readers will gain an appreciation for Napier’s brilliance and for an era when scientific computation was still in its infancy. It’s about time someone wrote a book on this subject for a general audience."--Glen Van Brummelen, author of Heavenly Mathematics
"Offering a thorough look into Napier’s contributions, family lineage, and life, this effectively organized book will be most useful to general readers and those with interests in Napier the man, the Reformation, early seventeenth-century mathematics, and Napier’s influence on logarithms and scientific developments of the time."--Kathy Clark, Florida State University
"Havil has crafted a complete biography of John Napier, including detailed explanations of his mathematical creations, all in the proper historical context. Readers will gain a deep understanding of the background and uses of the logarithm, as well as the significance of Napier’s achievement."--Paul C. Pasles, author of Benjamin Franklin’s Numbers
"This book fills a clear gap in published work on Napier and is likely to be the standard point of departure for those interested in his life and work for some years to come."--Mark McCartney, London Mathematical Society Newsletter
Introduction 1
Chapter One Life and Lineage 8
Chapter Two Revelation and Recognition 35
Chapter Three A New Tool for Calculation 62
Chapter Four Constructing the Canon 96
Chapter Five Analogue and Digital Computers 131
Chapter Six Logistics: The Art of Computing Well 155
Chapter Seven Legacy 179
Epilogue 207
Appendix A Napier's Works 209
Appendix B The Scottish Science Hall of Fame 210
Appendix C Scotland and Conflict 211
Appendix D Scotland and Reformation 216
Appendix E A Stroll Down Memory Lane 220
Appendix F Methods of Multiplying 229
Appendix G Amending Napier's Kinematic Model 232
Appendix H Napier's Inequalities 233
Appendix I Hos Ego Versiculos Feci 236
Appendix J The Rule of Three 238
Appendix K Mercator's Map 250
Appendix L The Swiss Claimant 264
References 270
Index 275
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