Gerardus Mercator

Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594), born Gerard de Kremer in Rupelmonde, Flanders, was a Flemish cartographer, globe-maker and cosmographer. Trained in Leuven by Gemma Frisius, he won fame with early maps of the Holy Land, the world and Flanders. Arrested for Protestant heresy in 1543, he was jailed seven months and in 1552 moved to tolerant Duisburg, where he became ducal cosmographer.

His world map of 1569 introduced the projection that bears his name, drawing constant compass bearings as straight lines for navigation. His Atlas was published posthumously in 1595.