Gerard Mercator (originally Gerard De Kremer or De Cremer; Latin: Gerardus Mercator Rupelmundanus, "Gerard de Kremer of Rupelmonde") (Rupelmonde, March 5, 1512 - Duisburg, December 2, 1594) was a cartographer, instrument maker and engraver, originally from the County Flanders and the Waasland who was already considered the "Ptolemy of his time" during his lifetime.[source?] He was the first to apply a true-to-angle map projection; later named Mercator projection after him.
Mercator saw himself much more as a scientific cosmographer than as someone who had to make a living by making and selling maps. His production remained limited. He is known for a pair of globes, five wall maps and an unfinished cosmography. He also introduced the word atlas. This word at that time included all the maps of the cosmos; so of both the universe and the earth. His products, which Mercator mainly manufactured in the German Rhine city of Duisburg, had a significant influence on later commercial map makers in the Netherlands.
source: Wikipedia