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Authorised form of nameMercator; Nicolas (c 1620 - 1687); mathematician and astronomer
Other forms of nameNicolaus
Kauffman, Nicolaus
Kauffman, Niklaus
Datesc 1620 - 1687
NationalityBritish
Place of birthEutin, Duchy of Holstein [modern day Germany], Europe
Date of birthc 1620
Place of deathVersailles, France, Europe
Research fieldMathematics
Astronomy
ActivityEducation:
University of Rostock (Mag Phil 1641); University of Leyden
Career:
Lived in the Netherlands (1642-1648); lectured at the University of Copenhagen (1648-1654); lived in Paris (1655-1657); Mathematics tutor to Joscelyne Percy, son of the 10th Earl of Northumberland, at Petworth, Sussex (1657); taught mathematics in London (1658-1682); designed a marine chronometer for Charles II; designed and constructed the fountains at Versailles (1682-1687)
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election14/11/1666
ProposerSir Robert Moray
Other Royal Society activityPublished in the 'Philosophical Transactions' on the theory of map projection (1666)
RelationshipsParents: Martin Kauffman and Hedwig Kauffman
Children: David Mercator
PublishedWorksRCN: 41961
RCN: 38533
OtherInfoWhile studying at Leyden, Mercator became acquainted with fellow mathematician John Pell (FRS 1663). He was also in regular correspondence with polymath Samuel Hartlib. Shortly before his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, he constructed and presented a marine timekeeper to Charles II. He wrote and published a series of university textbooks on astronomy, geography, and logarithms, for example. His most important work is considered to be 'Logarithmotechnica' (1667), the first book to publish a function in the form of an infinite series.
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SourceSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB (MP); DSB; Aubrey; Hunter
Authority:
First Altname from DNB (MP), second from Hunter, third from DSB
References:
Wilbur Applebaum, 'A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Nicolaus Mercator, FRS (1620-87), in Sheffield University Library' in NR 1986-87 vol 41 pp 27-37
G H Turnbull, 'Samuel Hartlib's Influence on the Early History of the Royal Society' in NR 1953 vol 10 pp 101-130
Notes:
DSB gives birth date as c 1619. Possible death date of January 1687. Alternate place of birth also Cismar in modern-day Germany. Original nationality uncertain: possibly German or Dutch. Hunter has his nationality as British until he moved to France in 1683.
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/49303208
CodeNA7751
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
RBO/7/101Five propositions concerning the quadrature of the circle by Nicholas Mercator1 March 1685
CLP/8i/20a/2Diagram, elliptical orbit of planets by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21Paper, 'Hypothesis astronomica nova' [New astronomical hypothesis] by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/5Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/7Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/1Manuscript, 'Hypothesis astronomica nova' [New astronomical hypothesis] by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/20a/1Manuscript, regarding the orbits of the planets by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/4Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/2Diagram, elliptical orbit of planets and table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/10Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/9Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
EL/M1/53Letter, from Nicholas Mercator to Henry Oldenburg16 July 1668
CLP/8i/21/6Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/12Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/24/2Paper, 'Vera circuli et hyperbolae quadratura in propria sua proportionis specie inventa et demonstrata [The true way to make the circle and hyperbola square according to their proper proportion, discovered and demonstrated]' by James Gregoryc. 17th century
CLP/8i/20aPaper, regarding the orbits of the planets by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/11Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/3Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
CLP/8i/21/8Diagram, astronomical table by Nicolas Mercator1664
EL/C1/50Letter, from Jean Dominique Cassini to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris10 June 1669
MC/37/45Letter from [Sidney Bertram] Gaythorpe, Bonnington Hotel, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1., to [Francis Alexander] Towle, Assistant Secretary, Royal Society, Burlington House, W.17 May 1923
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