Stevinus

Simon Stevin, also known by the Latinized name Stevinus (1548–1620), was a Flemish mathematician, engineer, and military adviser active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in the Low Countries. Born in Bruges, he spent much of his career in the Dutch Republic, contributing to mathematics, physics, and engineering.

He is best known for introducing and promoting decimal fractions and decimal notation in Europe through his pamphlet De Thiende (The Tenth, 1585). He argued for the practicality of base-10 arithmetic and the use of a decimal point, which greatly facilitated calculations, measurements, and accounting. He also published popular writings on arithmetic and trigonometry intended for practitioners.

Stevin translated Euclid's Elements into Dutch, making geometry accessible to a broader audience. He stressed experimental and practical approaches and applied mathematics to surveying, fortification, hydraulics, and artillery.

In mechanics and fluid statics, Stevin explored problems of equilibrium and the resolution of forces into components, as well as pressure and buoyancy in fluids. His mathematical methods influenced later engineers and scientists and helped link scientific thinking with military and civil engineering in the Netherlands.

During his life he served as an adviser to military leaders such as Maurice of Nassau and worked on fortifications and water-management projects. He died in The Hague, where his work left a lasting imprint on Dutch and European science and engineering.