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Flemish, Gerardus Mercator was a renowned cartographer born in Rupelmonde, Flanders, in 1512. He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of cartography, particularly his development of the Mercator projection, which revolutionized navigation and mapmaking. Mercator's work had a profound impact on the understanding of the world during the Age of Exploration and continues to be used in modern navigation systems.