Newton, Issac (1642-1727)

Physicist and Mathematician and regarded as one of the most important scientists, ever.

Born in Lincolnshire his childhood circumstances were difficult but his ability was recognised and an uncle supported him at school and then at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Newton made significant advances in:

Mechanics
- Defining the three laws of motion that bear his name.
- Explaining gravitation.
- Defining mass, weight, force, inertia and acceleration

Optics
- Discovered that white light is composed of colours that can be separated by a prism.
- Invented the reflecting telescope using mirrors rather than lenses.

Mathematics
- Formulated calculus.
- Developed the binomial theorem

Newton was elected to Parliament in 1689 and became Warden of the London Mint in 1699. He was elected President of the Royal Society in 1703 and was knighted in 1705.

Newton died on 20th March 1727, at the age of 80, and such was the esteem in which he was held that he was given a state funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey.