Robert Recorde (1510?-1558) graduated at Cambridge, read and taught mathematics at Oxford, practised as a physician in London, and in 1551 was appointed general surveyor of the mines and money. A man of broad knowledge, he 'was practically the founder of an English school of mathematical writers. He was the first writer in English on arithmetic, geometry and astronomy, and the first to introduce algebra into England'. He was also the first to use the present sign of equality, '=', which was probably taken from medieval manuscripts where it is used for 'est'. The Gound of Arts, first published in 1543, was his first work. The last known edition is by Edward Hatton in 1699. (cf. DNB)