Gerardus Mercator (redirected from Geradus Mercator)

Mercator, Gerardus 

(Latinized name of Gerhard van Kremer). Born Mar. 5, 1512; died Dec. 2, 1594. Flemish cartographer.

After graduating from the University of Louvain, Mercator began making precision optical instruments and maps. In 1552 he emigrated to Duisburg, Germany. Critically examining the available cartographic material, Mercator proposed new principles of map design, based on mathematics, and in particular several cartographic projections. His most famous projection, subsequently called the Mercator projection, is the cylindrical equiangular projection he used for his map of the world in 1569. The projection was universally accepted, and since that time it has been used in making marine and aeronautical charts and other maps requiring precise representation of angles. During his investigation of terrestrial magnetism Mercator computed the coordinates of the magnetic pole. His principal work was a collection of maps of European countries, called the Atlas (1595, published posthumously). The subject and aims of geography are described in the Preface to the Atlas.

REFERENCE

Salishchev, K. A. Osnovy kartovedeniia: ChasVistoricheskaia ikartograficheskie materialy. Moscow, 1948.