Biography
Isaac Newton was an English scientist and mathematician, who
discovered gravitation and Newtonian Mechanics. Read this biography to find
more on his life.
An extraordinary
genius and proficient physicist, mathematician, astronomer and alchemist, Sir
Isaac Newton is considered to be the greatest and the most influential
scientist who ever lived. One of the paramount contributors of the 17th century
Scientific Revolution, he developed the principles of modern physics which he
laid out in his book, ‘Philosophiae, Natrualis, Principia Mathematica’.
Popularly known as Principia, the book highlighted the concepts of universal
gravitation and laws of motions which remained at the forefront of science for
centuries after. Furthermore, he worked on and developed the theory of color.
He was the first to lay out the fact that color is an intrinsic property of
light and that when reflected, scattered or transmitted, a white light
decomposed into numerous colors that are visible in the spectrum or in the
rainbow. He was responsible for building the first practical telescope. Newton
also contributed to the study of power series, generalised the binomial theorem
to non-integer exponents, and developed method for approximating the roots of a
function. Apart from all the aforementioned, Newton made noteworthy and
substantial contribution in the field of alchemy and theology as well. In his
life, he held numerous significant positions such as serving as the Lucasian
Professor of mathematics, President of the Royal Society and Warden and Master
of the Mint. Thus, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Newton, single-handedly,
achieved milestones in physics that laid the groundwork for future discoveries
by scientists across the globe.
Childhood & Early Life
·
Isaac Newton was
born to Hannah Ayscough and Isaac Newton on the Christmas of 1642. His father
died three months prior to his birth. Hannah remarried Reverend Barnabus Smith,
leaving the three-year old Newton under the care of his maternal grandmother,
Margery Ayscough.
·
Newton attained his
preliminary education from The King’s School in Grantham, where he excelled and
achieved the top-rank. He then enrolled himself as a sizar at the Trinity
College, Cambridge in 1661.
·
It was during his
years at the Cambridge that Newton developed an interest in physics,
mathematics, optics and astronomy. Though he was taught standard curriculum, he
developed an interest in advanced science and spent his time reading works of
modern philosophers.
·
A plague epidemic of
1665 forced the shutdown of the college for two years, which Newton spent at
his home in Woolsthorpe. However, he did not let go of his studies and
continued the same privately.
·
It was during these
two years of hiatus from regular studies that Newton worked on the development
of his theories on calculus, optics and law of gravitation. He even discovered
the generalised binomial theorem and began to develop a mathematical theory
that later became infinitesimal calculus.
·
Newton contributed
heavily to the field of mathematics, distinctly advancing every branch of the
subject then studied. His work on fluxions or calculus was featured in the
manuscript of 1666, which was later published with his mathematical papers.
·
It was his solutions
to the contemporary problems in analytical geometry of drawing tangents to
curves (differentiation) and defining areas bounded by curves (integration)
that brought him into the limelight. Newton discovered that the problems were
inverse to each other.
·
He also discovered
general methods of resolving problems of curvature, through his method of
fluxions and inverse method of fluxions, today known as differentiation and
integration calculus. Unlike Leibniz’s usage of algebraically expressing
calculus, Newton used both algebra and geometry to express the same.
·
Furthermore, Newton
is credited for finding out the generalised binomial theorem. He even
discovered Newton's identities, Newton's method and classified cubic plane
curves.
·
Newton made
significant contribution to the theory of finite differences and was the first
to employ fractional indices and coordinate geometry to derive solutions to
Diophantine equations
·
He returned to
Cambridge in 1667 as a Fellow of Trinity. However, the same required him to
become an ordained priest, something which he detested from due to his
unconventional views.
·
Newton postponed the
ordination indefinitely but could not prolong it further in 1669 when he was
elected for the prestigious Lucasian Chair, an appointment for which ordination
was a prerequisite. However, he secured special permission from Charles II
which helped him to avoid ordination.
Sir Iseac Newton working in Research Works
Professional Years
·
As a professor,
Newton was required to serve as a tutor but his special permission gave him a
privilege according to which he needed to deliver an annual course of lectures
which he delivered on his work on optics.
·
Newton worked on his
study of optics over a period of years, investigating about the refraction of
light by a glass prism. Years of elaborate, refined and exact experiments led
Newton to finally discover and conclude the fact that color is an intrinsic
property of light and that light was composed of particles.
·
Newton found out
that white light was a mixture of infinitely varied coloured rays that is
visible in the rainbow and the spectrum. Furthermore, he determined the fact
that the refraction of white light caused by a prism into a multi-coloured
spectrum could be recomposed to white light using a lens and a second prism. He
even dealt with the fact that white light, when refracted to form colored
light, did not change its properties.
·
He concluded that
colour is the result of objects interacting with already-coloured light rather
than objects generating the colour themselves, which was later known as
Newton’s theory of color. To prove this theory, Newton build upon a telescope
in 1668, known as the Newtonian telescope.
·
Later in 1672,
Newton came up with his first published work on lights, optics and color titled
‘Opticks: A treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of
Light’. His work, however, did not please everyone at the Royal Society,
including Robert Hooke with whom he shared an unpleasant relationship all
through.
·
Unable to take the
criticism well and denying the fact that his work had any shortcomings, Newton
suffered from a nervous breakdown which further escalated after the death of
his mother in 1679.
·
Newton went on to
six years of hiatus during which he withdrew from all sorts of intellectual
correspondence. It was during this time that Newton developed on his theory of
gravitation and its effects, which he first started during the interval from
Cambridge due to Plague.
·
Newton determined
that there was a single force that determined the motion of Moon, the falling
of an apple from a tree and the relation between a pendulum and a sling.
·
Developing on
Hooke’s theory, he proved that the elliptical form of planetary orbits would
result from a centripetal force inversely proportional to the square of the
radius vector.
·
Encouraged to work
out the problem mathematically and offered remuneration for the same, Newton
began to work on his theory of mechanics and gravitation and came up with his
first book on the subject, titled ‘Philosophiae, Natrualis, Principia
Mathematica’ in 1687.
·
Popularly known as
Principia, the first edition of the book set the foundation of the science of
mechanics. Newton explained that gravitational force was responsible for
controlling the motions of the celestial bodies.
·
He even came up with
the three laws of motion. First, a stationary body will stay stationary unless
an external force is applied to it. Second, force is equal to mass times
acceleration, and a change in motion is proportional to the force applied and
third, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
·
Though the
publication of the work drew charges of plagiarism by Hooke, it was overruled
as most scientists knew that Hooke had only theorized the idea and the proof
that Principia reflected upon was the work of Newton.
International Fame
·
The publication of
‘Principia’ elevated the reputation of Newton in the scientific circle to
greater heights. He was widely acknowledged for his discoveries which were
ranked amongst humanity’s greatest achievements.
·
The rising
prominence and reputation encouraged Newton to take interest in other spheres,
which made him more and more active in public life. His position at Cambridge
interested him no more as he became interested in other issues. Following this,
Newton was elected to represent Cambridge at the Parliament.
·
In the upcoming
years, Newton expanded his circle to get pally with political philosophers like
John Locke. While the world still was under the realm of Aristotelian
philosophy and view of the nature, a young generation of British scientists
became influenced by Newton’s works and thought of him as their leader.
·
Newton faced another
nervous breakdown during this time but recovered from the same pretty early.
However, following the breakdown, Newton lost interest in scientific
discoveries and started to indulge his time in the study of alchemy and
prophecy.
·
In 1696, Newton was
appointed to the position of Warden of the Mint. Acquiring the title, he moved
to London to attain this long-desired governmental position. No longer than in
1699, he was promoted to the position of Master of the Mint. Holding the
profile until his death, Newton worked on reforming the status of currency and
punishing clippers and counterfeiters. He even moved the currency from silver
to gold standard.
Appointment At The Royal Society
·
Upon the death of
Robert Hooke, Newton was elected as the President of the Royal Society in 1703.
However, his years as the President were afflicted with controversy and
tyranny.
·
In 1705, Queen Anne
knighted Newton. With this, he became the second scientist to be knighted after
Sir Francis Bacon. However, most viewed that the knighthood was the result of
Newton’s political pursuits rather than an effort to recognize his scientific
discoveries or his service as the Master of the Mint.
·
Same year, i.e. in
1705, Newton was accused by Gottfred Leibniz of plagiarizing the latter’s
research. Leibniz claimed that much before the publication of ‘Principia’, he
discovered infinitesimal calculus that had been used to explain the theories in
the book. An investigation of the matter resulted in Leibniz being declared a
fraud
·
Another incident
that depicts the tyranny of Newton during his years of powers was his premature
publication of the works of John Flamsteed without the latter’s approval. The
incident aroused due to the fact that Flamsteed refused to provide Newton with
his notes that the latter required for his revision of ‘Principia’.
Personal Life & Legacy
·
Despite having a
near-to perfect professional life, Newton’s personal life was less than
perfect. He suffered from bouts of insecurity and pride and even mental
instability.
·
Newton spent his
final years in Cranbury Park in Winchester England with his niece and her
husband. He had achieved considerable popularity due to his scientific
discoveries and a whole lot of money as well.
·
Newton breathed his
last on March 20, 1727, in his sleep after experiencing severe pain in his
abdomen. He was buried at Westminister Abbey. Posthumously, Newton was adjudged
as the greatest scientist or genius who ever lived. He was even compared to the
likes of Aristotle, Plato and Galileo.
·
There is a monument
by the name, Newton’s monument that has been created at the north of the
entrance of Westminister Abbey in his memory. It also points out the greatness
of the genius scientist and pays a tribute to his scintillating discoveries.
·
For about a decade,
from 1978 until 1988, an image of Newton appeared on Series D �1 banknotes issued
by the Bank of England. The image showed him holding a book and having a
telescope, a prism and a map of the Solar System by his side.
·
The Oxford
University Museum of Natural History houses a statue of Isaac Newton, looking
at an apple at his feet. Furthermore, the piazza of the British Library in
London holds a large bronze statue of Newton.
Falderal
· It is said that the
falling of an apple from a tree inspired this great scientist to discover the
force behind the action which eventually led to the Discovery of Gravitational Force.
·
He published the
book, 'Philosophae Naturalis Mathematica', which is widely regarded to be one
of the important books in the history of science. In it, he described universal
gravitation and the three laws of motion.
Top 10 Facts You Did Not Know About Isaac Newton
·
Isaac Newton was
born in 1642, the same year that Galileo Galilei died.
·
The rivalry between
Newton and Robert Hooke is well known and according to some sources, the hatred
continued even after Hooke’s death and Newton had all portraits of Hooke
destroyed.
·
One of Newton’s
teeth was sold in 1816 at an auction for approximately $ 3,600.
·
It was Newton who
first predicted that Jews will take back Israel and the prediction turned out
to be absolutely correct !
·
The story that a
falling apple inspired Newton to think about gravitational pull was first
recorded by the French writer Voltaire.
·
When Newton was a
young boy, his mother tried to pressurize him to become a farmer. However he
was so bad at farming that she reluctantly sent him to college to study.
·
He was obsessed with
the Bible and had calculated the date of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as
April 3, 33 A.D. and the earliest date of the Apocalypse as 2060 A.D.
·
He had a secret
interest in alchemy and desired to procure the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—he
even wrote a 28 page treatise on the fabled stone.
·
A reclusive and
secretive person, Isaac Newton has often been associated with various secret
societies and fraternal orders throughout history.
·
Newton was eccentric
by nature and once jammed a darning needle around the side of his eye. He was
experimenting with properties of light and used himself as a guinea pig in
order to find out whether the eyes were responsible for collecting light or
creating it.
Quick Facts
FAMOUS AS
Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer
NATIONALITY
BORN ON
25 December 1642 AD
BIRTHDAY
25th December Famous 25th December
Birthdays
DIED AT AGE
84
SUN
SIGN
Capricorn Capricorn Men
BORN
IN
Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth
DIED
ON
20 March 1727 AD
PLACE
OF DEATH
Kensington
FATHER
Isaac Newton Sr.
MOTHER
Hannah Ayscough
MARRIED
No
EDUCATION
Trinity College
Cambridge (1668)
Trinity College
Cambridge (1661 – 1665)
The King's School
Grantham (1661)
Cambridge (1668)
Trinity College
Cambridge (1661 – 1665)
The King's School
Grantham (1661)
DISCOVERIES
/ INVENTIONS
Reflecting Telescope