The Isle of Wight and Its Influence on Hooke’s Earthly Thoughts

Abstract Most biographical sketches of Robert Hooke mention that he was born on July I 8, 1635, in a village called Freshwater on the western end of the Isle of Wight, England (Fig. 2-1 ). Then, except for noting that his father, John Hooke, had been curate of the Church of All Saints in Freshwater and that his father’s house was located on what is now known as Hook Hill, no more information is given of this geologically fascinating island that so strongly influenced Hooke in developing his hypothesis of the terraqueous globe. Hooke’s hypotheses on the origin of fossils and terrestrial features (discussed in detail in Chapters 4, 5, 6 and in Part II, Hooke’s Discourse of Earthquakes) stemmed from his intimate knowledge of his birthplace. Many of his descriptions of sediments, rocks or fossils are based directly on those features occurring on the Isle of Wight. Also, in Discourse of Earthquakes, he tells us he “often” explored the coastal cliffs of this island.