Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727), one of the greatest scientific minds of all time, was born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and died in London. His work laid the foundations for modern physics, astronomy, and, along with Wilhelm Leibniz, mathematics. His contribution to modern science is aptly described as the "Newtonian revolution."
Newton's best known contribution to science is in the field of mechanics and is described in his famous work Principia (1687), which explains the laws governing the motion of physical objects (heavenly and otherwise). Principia rests on the new branch of mathematics that Newton invented simultaneously with Leibniz (1646-1716), calculus, a tool that allowed mathematicians to move beyond the work done by the ancient Greeks for the first time in almost two thousand years. Newton's genius was immediately recognized, and he was elected the head of the Royal Academy of Science. He was also a member of the French Académie des Sciences and was the first scientist to become a knight of the realm and to be buried in Westminster Abbey.
Newton provided explanations for fundamental natural phenomena: gravitation, the motion of the planets, and the mechanics of physics on earth. He united all of these phenomena under a single law of motion that destroyed the accepted Aristotelian system. Newton also refined the scientific techniques of hypothesis, deduction, and experimentation. His unprecedented contributions laid the groundwork for modern science.
The biographical material about the author originally appeared on The Goodrich Room: Interactive Tour website.
Last modified April 13, 2016