Willebrord Snellius
Willebrord Snellius (June 13, 1580 - October 30, 1626) was a Dutch mathematician and astronomer best known for formulating the law of refraction of light (also known as Snell’s law), which describes how a light ray changes direction when passing between different media. This law is fundamental in optics and has applications in lenses, scientific instruments, and modern technologies. Snellius also made significant contributions to geodesy, using triangulation methods to accurately measure a portion of the Earth’s meridian, improving knowledge of the Earth’s shape and size.