Gerardus Mercator (born 5 March 1512 in
Rupelmonde in the
Habsburg County of Flanders (
Belgium),
Holy Roman Empire, died 2 December 1594 in
Duisburg,
United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg,
Holy Roman Empire) was a
cartographer,
philosopher and
mathematician. He is best known for his work in cartography, particular the world map of 1569 based on a new
projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing as straight lines. He was the first to use the term
Atlas for a collection of maps.