Gerolamo Cardano (1501-1576), Italian mathematician and physician, coloured historical artwork. Gerolamo Cardano, also known as Jerome Cardan, is best known as one of the greatest algebraists of his time. He recognised both negative and complex roots of equations, and gave a general algebraic method for solving cubic equations (Cardano's solution). He was accused of plagiarism by Tartaglia, but such claims have been contested. Engraving from the 19th century book Vies des Savants Illustres.