Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton (b. 1642–d. 1727) played a pivotal role in the early modern Scientific Revolution through his contributions in three fields: mathematics, optics, and physics. Additionally, Newton contributed to the scientific method, designed and built the first working reflecting telescope, engaged in extensive correspondence with other natural philosophers, and served as president of the Royal Society of London for more than a quarter century. His accomplishments also include his leadership at the Royal Mint in London (first as warden in 1696 and then as master from 1699 until his death). He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705. Newton’s life can be divided into three phases according to geographical region. From 1642 to 1661 he lived in Lincolnshire, where he was born (Woolsthorpe) and attended grammar school (the King’s School, Grantham). He came to Trinity College in 1661 to begin his undergraduate training and became Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1669. In 1696, he moved to London to take his position at the Mint. He was given a state funeral and buried at Westminster Abbey. Newton’s development of calculus introduced a potent mathematical tool with a wide range of applications (Gottfried Leibniz independently shared this innovation); his prism experiments showed that sunlight is heterogenous; his three laws of motion continue to serve physics and engineering; and his inverse-square law of universal gravitation helped make planetary science and the Space Age possible. Newton’s status as a polymath is underscored by his practice of alchemy (chymistry), and his forays into chronology and his study of doctrine, prophecy, and church history. The steadily increasing collection of transcribed manuscripts produced by the Newton Project has given scholars unprecedented access to his thought and has made research into the interrelations between his intellectual endeavors possible. In addition to being important to science and scientists, Newton is studied by historians, historians of science, philosophers, philosophers of science, theologians, sociologists, and literary scholars. This article on Newton and Newtonianism reflects this range of study and brings together classic studies along with cutting-edge research. Note: articles alluded to in summaries of collections of papers are mostly not repeated elsewhere under the specific subject headings.