Newton, Sir Isaac

From Encyclopediak

Newton, Sir Isaac 1642-1727, a famous English mathematician, philosopher and astronomer, born at Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire. When 12 years of age he was sent to Grantham to attend school. From early youth he showed an inventive turn of mind, preferring to make kites, windmills and other mechanical toys rather than engage in the sports of his playmates. In 1661 he entered Trinity College, receiving his degree of bachelor of arts in 1665. In 1667 he became a fellow of the Trinity, and in 1668 received from that college his master's degree. From 1669 to 1701 he filled the chair of mathematics at Cambridge. During the years at Cambridge he was pursuing the lines of investigation which have resulted in incalculable value to the world. In the field of optics he discovered the components of white light and explained the color of natural bodies investigated the laws of the refraction of light and invented the refracting telescope. He also estimated the length of light waves. During this time he was working on his Principia, which is the basis of modern mathematics and physics. He discovered the laws of gravitation and formulated them. He then applied them to the movements of the heavenly bodies and verified Kepler's Laws. He was also the discoverer of differential calculus, although this honor should perhaps be shared with Leibnitz. In 1689 Newton was made member of Parliament as representative of the University of Cambridge, and maintained the rights of that institution in a critical period of its history. In 1672 he became a member of the Royal Society, and in 1703 was elected president, a position of great honor, to which he was regularly reelected for a period of 24 years, holding the office to the end of his life. In 1696 Newton was made warden of the mint, a position which did not impose more service than he could render in connection with his professorship in Cambridge. His scientific knowledge was of very great value in the recoinage, and he gave to it his best efforts. In 1699 he was promoted to the position of master of the mint, which he held until his death. This position was more remunerative and justified him, financially, in resigning his professorship, which he did in 1701. In 1705 he received the distinction of knighthood. See ASTRONOMY, GRAVITATION, TELESCOPE, SOLAR SYSTEM.