Brook Taylor was an English mathematician born in 1685, known for his contributions to calculus and mathematics. He is best recognized for Taylor's theorem, which provides a way to approximate functions using polynomials. This theorem is fundamental in mathematical analysis and has applications in various fields, including physics and engineering. In addition to his work in calculus, Taylor made significant contributions to the study of infinitesimal calculus and geometry. He was also involved in the development of Taylor series, which express functions as infinite sums of terms calculated from the values of their derivatives at a single point. Taylor's work laid the groundwork for many modern mathematical concepts.