Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), born in Leipzig, was a German polymath, mathematician and philosopher. From age seven he used his late father's library, reading philosophy and theology widely. After studying mathematics in Paris from 1672, he entered the service of the Brunswick dukes at Hanover in 1676 as councillor.

Independently of Newton he developed the calculus, and devised binary arithmetic and a mechanical calculating machine. In his Théodicée and Monadology he argued that this is the best of all possible worlds. Out of favour with George I, he died neglected in Hanover in 1716.