Gerolamo Cardano was an Italian mathematician, physician, and philosopher born in 1501. He is best known for his contributions to algebra, particularly for his work on solving cubic equations. Cardano published the famous book Ars Magna in 1545, which laid the groundwork for modern algebra and introduced the concept of complex numbers. In addition to mathematics, Cardano made significant advancements in probability theory and was one of the first to apply mathematical principles to games of chance. He also contributed to the field of medicine and was known for his work in mechanics, including the invention of the Cardan joint, a device used in engineering.