Henry Briggs was an English mathematician born in 1561, known for his significant contributions to logarithms. He introduced the concept of common logarithms, which are logarithms to the base 10, making calculations easier for mathematicians and scientists. His work laid the foundation for the development of logarithmic tables, which were widely used before the advent of calculators. Briggs was also a professor at Gresham College in London, where he taught mathematics and shared his knowledge with students. He published several important works, including "Arithmetica Logarithmica," which contained tables of logarithms. His efforts greatly advanced the field of mathematics during the early 17th century.