When and where was Gerardus Mercator born?
Geert Kremer arrived in the world on the 5th of March 1512 within the village of Rupelmonde. His father Hubert worked as a shoemaker while his mother Emerance came from Gangelt.
Questions about Gerardus Mercator
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Catholic authorities arrest Gerardus Mercator in 1543?
Catholic authorities arrested Mercator in 1543 for suspected Lutheran heresy. He spent seven months imprisoned in a castle without ever producing incriminating writings against himself.
What map did Gerardus Mercator publish in 1569?
Mercator published his world map titled Nova et Aucta Orbis Terrae Descriptio ad Usum Navigantium Emendate Accommodata in 1569. His solution made rhumb lines appear as straight lines by increasing the scale of the chart with latitude.
How much did pairs of astrolabes cost in 1570?
These instruments sold at prices like twenty-five carolus guilders per pair in 1570 despite their high cost. The business provided income allowing him to marry Barbara Schellekens in September 1536 and establish a home.
When was Gerardus Mercator's Chronologia placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum?
The Catholic Church placed this work on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum because it included deeds of Martin Luther. His Chronologia ran to four hundred pages fixing dates from three thousand nine hundred sixty-five years before Christ's birth.
Who purchased copper plates from Gerardus Mercator's family in 1604?
Jodocus Hondius purchased copper plates from Mercator's family in 1604 and transformed the atlas into an enormous commercial success. He added nearly forty extra maps including Spain and Portugal while producing twenty-nine editions between 1609 and 1641.