A true Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, inventor, scientist, architect, engineer, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. Although centuries after his death Leonardo remains known primarily as the artist who painted the "Last Supper" and the "Mona Lisa," Leonardo placed a stronger emphasis on his scientific rather than his artistic endeavors. His investigations into almost every field of known science in his time resulted in plans for everything from airplanes to air conditioning systems. Leonardo was also prolific in the field of mathematics and physics, including squaring the circle and calculating the velocity of a falling object.

Born in Vinci, near Florence, Italy, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci, a notary, and a peasant woman. Leonardo's father recognized his genius early and ensured that Leonardo received a proper education in reading, writing, and arithmetic at his home. Leonardo never attended a university. Rather...