Sir Isaac Newton
Newton was born in the village of Woolsthorpe, England. His father died before he was born and his mother raised him on the family farm. As a youth he showed little evidence of his later brilliance, except for an unusual talent with mechanical devices (for instance he built a toy flour mill powered by a mouse). In 1661 he entered Trinity College in Cambridge. Here, Newton caught the eye of Isaac Barrow, a gifted mathematician, teacher, and preacher. Under Barrow’s guidance Newton immersed himself in mathematics and science, but he graduated without any special distinction.
Newton returned to his home in Woolsthorpe and stayed there during the years of 1665-1666. In those two momentous years the entire framework of modern science was miraculously created in Newton’s mind. He discovered calculus, recognized the underlying principles of planetary motion and gravity, and determined that "white" sunlight was composed of all colors, red to violet.
In 1669 Dr. Barrow resigned his post to devote himself to studying the Bible. Isaac Newton, at age 27, succeeded his teacher to the Lucasian chair of mathematics at Trinity, one of the most honored chairs of mathematics in the world. Thereafter, brilliant discoveries flowed from Newton steadily. He formulated the law of gravitation and used it to explain the motion of the Moon, the planets, and the tides; he formulated basic theories of light, thermodynamics, and hydrodynamics; and he devised and constructed the first modern reflecting telescope.
In 1672 Newton became a member of the Royal Society. This group of noteworthy people refused to accept the ancient Greeks as the only source of knowledge. Most members had theological beliefs similar to Newton’s, and worked to show that the Bible and science were not in conflict. Members included Doctor Barrow, architect Christopher Wren, chemist Robert Boyle, politician Charles Montague, and astronomer Edmund Halley.
Throughout his life Newton was hesitant to publish his major discoveries, revealing them only to a select circle of friends. This was partly because he didn’t seek personal glory, and partly because he feared that publicity would interfere with his experiments and studies. In 1687, only after intense coaxing by his friend Edmond Halley, did Newton publish his masterpiece, "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy".
After 25 years as a professor, Newton suffered a nervous breakdown. He recovered a few years later with help from his friends. In 1695 he gave up research to accept a position as warden and later master of the London mint. He was knighted in 1705 and on his death was buried in Westminister Abbey with all the honors his country could bestow.
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