Geographer Hall of Fame – Gerardus Mercator

July 18, 2012

Joining Waldo Tobler as the second Geographer Hall of Fame inductee is Gerardus Mercator.

Mercator was a 16th Century cartographer best known for inventing the Mercator projection.  You can read more about Mercator on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerardus_Mercator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cartography

And here are a few related books that may be of interest:

Mark Monmonier wrote about the Mercator Projection in Rhumb Lines and Map Wars (here’s an excerpt).

For the serious scholar of cartography, you’ll want to check out the History of Cartography series by J.B. Harley and David Woodward.  There are several volumes including Cartography in the European Renaissance: Part 1 and Part 2.

Thanks to everyone who voted and submitted nominees!  Stay tuned for the 3rd inductee!