1-624-435 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, German philosopher and mathematician, (1836). Leibniz (1646-1716) published his system of infinitesimal calculus in 1684, three years before Isaac Newton who, however, claimed priority as inventor because his publication related to earlier work. The controversy was never settled. As a philosopher, Leibnitz expounded the theory that the Universe is composed of 'monads', a simple substance that is used to create all other compounds. He died without recognition and with almost all his work unpublished.