Issac Newton (1642-1727)

Sir Issac Newton was an English scientist, astronomer, and mathematician.

Newton invented a new kind of mathematics, discovered the secrets of light and color, and showed how the universe is held together.

He is sometimes described as "one of the greatest names in the history of human thought " because of his great contributions to mathematics, physics, and astronomy.

Newton discovered how the universe is held together through his theory of gravitation. He discovered the secrets of light and color. He also invented a branch of mathematics and calculus within 18 months from 1665 to 1667.

Issac Newton was born at Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, on Dec. 25, 1642.

He entered Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 1661. He showed no exceptional ability during his college career and graduated in 1665 without any particular distinction.

Newton became professor of mathematics at Cambridge in 1669. Newton became active in public life after the publication of Principia. He became the Cambridge University member of Parliament in 1689 and held his seat until Parliament dissolved the following year. He became warden of the mint in 1696. He was appointed master of the mint in 1699, a position he held until his death.

In 1699, he also became a member of the Royal Society council and an associate of the French Academy. He was elected to Parliament again from the university in 1701. He left Cambridge and settled permanently in London in 1701. He became president of the Royal Society in 1703 and was reelected annually until his death. Queen Anne knighted Newton in 1705. He died in 1727 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Newton was a bachelor who spent only part of his time studying mathematics, physics, and astronomy. He was also a student of alchemy and made many alchemical experiments. He also spent a great deal of his time on questions of theology and Biblical chronology.

He was modest in his character. He said of himself shortly before his death, "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

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