Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 ??1543), a Renaissance-era mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than Earth at its centre. In all likelihood, Copernicus developed his model independently of Aristarchus of Samos, an ancient Greek astronomer who had formulated such a model some eighteen centuries earlier. Copperplate engraving from the Encyclopaedia Londinensis, or Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature; Volume V; Edited by Wilkes, John. Published in London in 1810.