John Napier Profession: Mathematician Nationality: Scottish Biography: Discovered mathematical logarithms. Napier also invented the so-called "Napier's bones" and made common the use of the decimal point in arithmetic and mathematics. He was born on an unrecorded day in Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1550. Born: February 1, 1550 Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland Star Sign: Aquarius Died: April 4, 1617 (aged 67) Cause of Death: Gout Historical Events 1594-01-29 Mathematician John Napier dedicates his "Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John" to King James VI, predicts end of the world in 1688 or 1700 Biographies and Sources John Napier (1555-1617) - Science Hall of Fame, National Library of Scotland Famous Mathematicians Benjamin Banneker Elena Cornaro Piscopia Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Isaac Newton Leonhard Euler Lewis Carroll