Jacob ben Machir ibn Tibbon (Profatius)

A member of the celebrated Jewish Ibn Tibbon family of translators, Jacob ben Machir — known in Latin as Profatius Judaeus — was an astronomer, physician and translator active in Montpellier. He invented the 'quadrans novus' (new quadrant), an improved astronomical instrument, and compiled astronomical tables that were translated into Latin and used by later European astronomers, including Copernicus. His scientific and translation work helped transmit Greek and Arabic learning into medieval Europe.