Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He worked as both a military engineer, inventing weapons, and a famous painter, being best known for paintings like the Mona Lisa. He also invented early designs of airplanes and helicopters and made many scientific discoveries about anatomy, physics, and engineering. As one of the greatest polymaths of the Renaissance, da Vinci laid foundations for many modern fields through his diverse talents and inventions.