Abraham Ortelius

Abraham Ortelius was a cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer from Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands. He is recognized as the creator of the first modern atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Along with Gemma Frisius and Gerardus Mercator, Ortelius is generally considered one of the founders of the Netherlandish school of cartography and geography. He was a notable figure of this school in its golden age and an important geographer of Spain during the age of discovery. The publication of his atlas in 1570 is often considered as the official beginning of the Golden Age of Netherlandish cartography. He was the first person proposing that the continents were joined before drifting to their present positions.

14 April 1527

Born on the same birth day (14 April): Baker Mayfield • David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes • David Justice • Frank Daniel • Gloria Jean • Inez Andrews • Kenny Aaronson • Martin Kaalma • Matt Derbyshire • Otto Lasanen • Paul Masnick • René Desmaison • Sylvio Mantha