Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher, mathematician, and polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including mathematics, philosophy, and logic. He is best known for his development of calculus independently of Isaac Newton, as well as his work on the principles of sufficient reason and the identity of indiscernibles. Leibniz also made important contributions to the development of binary number system, which laid the foundation for modern computer science. He was a prominent figure of the 17th century Enlightenment and is considered one of the greatest thinkers in Western history.