William Oughtred
English mathematician and inventor of the slide rule

Born
March 5th, 1575
450 years ago
Died
June 30th, 1660
365 years ago — 85 years old
Category
Thinkers & Philosophers
Country
England
Links & References
An English minister and mathematician, Oughtred contributed significantly to the field of mathematics in the 17th century. He introduced the slide rule, a device used for calculation based on logarithms, and authored several influential mathematical texts, including 'The Circle of Proportion' and 'The Art of Mathematics'. His works helped to formalize and advance mathematical notation. Oughtred served as a minister in the Church of England, balancing his religious duties with his passion for mathematics, and gained respect among mathematicians in his lifetime.
Invented the slide rule
Authored 'The Circle of Proportion'
Published 'The Art of Mathematics'
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