Leonard Digges (1520 - 1559), father of Thomas Digges, was a well-known mathematician and surveyor, credited with the inventions of the theodolite and telescope, and a great populariser of science through his publications in English. In a way, his son followed in his footsteps and was a pivotal player in the popularisation of Copernicus's book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium.

The first publication of many by Leonard Digges was A General Prognostication published in 1553, which became a best-seller as it contained a perpetual calendar, collections of weather lore and a wealth of astronomical material, until then largely only obtainable through books published in Latin or Greek. It was revised in 1555 (the earliest surviving edition) and again in 1556 with the title A Prognostication everlasting. Subsequent editions reprint the text from 1556; editions from 1576 and later include additional material by his son.

Leonard Digges is also credited with independently inventing the reflecting, and probably the refracting telescope as part of his need to see accurately over long distances during his surveying works.

In 1554, Leonard Digges took part in an unsuccessful rebellion led by the Protestant Sir Thomas Wyatt against England's new Catholic Queen Mary who took over the throne in 1553 from her father Henry VIII. Digges was condemned to death, but escaped capital punishment, instead forfeiting all his estates.

References

• Gribbin, John. 2002. Science: A History. Penguin books
• Johnson, Francis R. Astronomical Thought in Renaissance England: A Study of the English Scientific Writings from 1500 to 1645. Johns Hopkins Press, 1937.

External link

• Digges history

British mathematicians | 1520 births | 1559 deaths | 16th century mathematicians