Belgian-born Dutch mathematician and engineer

Simon Stevin (Latinized to Stevinus, as was the custom of the times) took as his motto, "Wonderful, yet not unfathomable," or, alternatively, "Nothing is the miracle it appears to be". In his pursuit to fulfill this motto, Stevinus made significant contributions to mathematics, engineering, and the earth sciences. As a mathematician, he was the first to advocate the use of tenths towards the establishment of decimals in mathematical calculations. As an engineer, he developed a method of releasing floods via Holland's vast canal system in the event of an invasion. The first achievement mentioned above has great bearing on mathematical calculations in the earth sciences and the second relates to a combination of engineering and the study of the behavior of running water. However, it was his contributions to hydrostatics, astronomy, gravity, and magnetic declination that established his importance...