John Napier

John Napier (1550–1617) was a Scottish theologian, mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. A citizen of the Kingdom of Scotland, he was educated at the University of St Andrews and adhered to the Church of Scotland. His field of work was mathematics, and he is associated with the notable works *Mirifici logarithmorum canonis descriptio* and Napier’s bones. Other recorded works include *Logarithmorum canonis descriptio, seu arithmeticarum supputationum mirabilis abbrevatio* and *Arcanvm svppvtationis arithmeticae*.

Napier died in Edinburgh on April 4, 1617, and was buried in St Giles' Cathedral. He spoke Spanish and English. His writings have been described in sources such as the *Encyclopædia Britannica* 11th edition and the *Nuttall Encyclopædia*.