Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Galileo was the greatest scientist who ever lived. IN1632 he published an important book of the dialogues concerning the two chief world systems of Ptolemy and Copernicus. In 1633 the church told him that he was wrong. He refused to say he was wrong and was sentenced to be imprisoned but the sentence changed to house arrest. He spent the remaining years in a country house under arrest where he was watched closely but was allowed to continue his scientific work. His greatest impact was his telescope and the laws of motion. It changed the way people viewed the universe.
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
Rene Descartes was a famous French mathematician, scientist and philosopher. He was arguably the first major philosopher in the modern era to make a serious effort to defeat skepticism. His views about knowledge and certainty, as well as his views about the relationship between mind and body have been very influential over the last three centuries.
Peter Apian (1495-1552)
Peter Apian (actually Peter Bienewitz or Benewitz) was born on April 16, 1495, in Leisnig, Saxony. Peter Apian studied mathematics, astronomy, and geography in Leipzig and Vienna from 1516 until 1521. He was appointed professor for mathematics at the University of Ingolstadt in 1527 where he lived and taught until his death.