Cryptography, the use of codes and ciphers to protect secrets, began thousands of years ago. Samuel Morland, 1st Baronet (1625 - December 30, 1695) was an English academic, diplomat, spy, inventor and mathematician, a polymath credited with early developments in relation to computing, hydraulics and steam power. Devoting much time to the study of mathematics, he also became an accomplished Latinist and was proficient in Greek, Hebrew and French. While serving as secretary to John Thurloe, a Commonwealth official in charge of espionage, he became disillusioned with the Government of the Commonwealth. As a double agent, he began to work towards the Restoration, engaging in espionage and cryptography. He had a lifelong acquaintance with Samuel Pepys and corresponded with him about naval gun-carriages, designed a machine to weigh ship's anchors, developed new forms of barometers, and designed a cryptographic machine. Taken from "A new method of cryptography, humbly presented to the most serene Majesty of Charles the II. By Samuel Morland knight and baronet, and one of the gentlemen of his Majesty's privy chamber in ordinary.1666."