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Isaac Newton
1643–1727 · Physicist & Mathematician
One of the most influential scientists in history, Newton laid the foundations of classical mechanics and co-invented calculus.
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
Newton's three laws of motion explain why a ball arcs through the air, why a seatbelt saves you in a crash, and how rockets reach space. His law of universal gravitation showed that the same force pulling an apple to the ground holds the Moon in orbit. Almost every physics problem you will ever solve builds on the rules he wrote down over 300 years ago.
Isaac's story
Early Life
Born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, Newton was so small at birth he was not expected to survive. His father had died before he was born, and his mother left him with his grandmother when she remarried. He was a solitary, introspective child who built clocks, sundials, and model windmills, and showed an early talent for mechanical invention.
The Plague Years
When Cambridge University closed due to the Great Plague in 1665, Newton returned home for two years — the most productive period of his life. There, he developed his theory of colours, began his work on calculus, and, according to his own account, watched an apple fall and wondered whether the same force that pulled it down might also keep the Moon in orbit. During this period he developed important early ideas in calculus, optics and gravitation, although several of these theories were refined and published much later.
The Principia
Encouraged by Edmund Halley, who arranged and personally financed the publication, Newton published 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' in 1687. In it, he set out his three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, showing that the same laws govern a falling apple and the orbits of planets. It is considered one of the greatest scientific works ever written and dominated physics for over two centuries.
Optics and Light
Newton made major contributions to optics, building the first successful practical reflecting telescope — which used mirrors instead of lenses to avoid colour distortion — and demonstrating that white light is actually a mixture of all colours. His experiments with prisms showed that colour is a property of light itself, not of the prism. He published 'Opticks' in 1704, written in English rather than Latin so that a wider audience could read it.
Master of the Mint
In 1696 Newton was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint and in 1699 became Master of the Mint. He took the work seriously, overseeing aspects of the Great Recoinage and pursuing counterfeiters through investigations and prosecutions. He became President of the Royal Society in 1703 and was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705.
Legacy
Newton spent more time on theology and alchemy than on physics, leaving behind over a million words on biblical prophecy and mystical subjects. He had bitter, decades-long feuds with Robert Hooke over credit for optics and with Gottfried Leibniz over who invented calculus first. Despite his difficult personality, Newtonian mechanics remained extraordinarily successful for more than two centuries and is still accurate for many everyday situations, although Einstein's theories of relativity later showed its limits at very high speeds and in strong gravitational fields. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
What did they discover?
Three Laws of Motion
Three laws describing how objects move: inertia, force equals mass times acceleration, and action–reaction. These laws formed the foundation of classical mechanics for over 200 years.
Universal Gravitation
Every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them — unifying the heavens and the Earth.
Calculus
Developed (independently of Leibniz) a new branch of mathematics for describing rates of change — essential to modern physics, engineering, and economics.
Reflecting Telescope
Built the first successful practical reflecting telescope, using mirrors rather than a large objective lens to reduce chromatic distortion. Reflecting designs later became fundamental to modern astronomical telescopes.
Theory of Colour
Demonstrated with prisms that white light is a mixture of all colours, and that colour is a property of light, not of the lens or prism.
Amazing facts
The famous apple story is partly true — Newton himself described being inspired by a falling apple.
He spent more time studying the Bible and alchemy than he did on physics.
He once stuck a needle into his eye socket to study how pressure affects vision — and survived.
He had a bitter, decades-long feud with Gottfried Leibniz over who invented calculus first.
As an official of the Royal Mint, Newton personally investigated counterfeiting networks and helped bring offenders to prosecution.
He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705; MacTutor describes him as the first scientist to receive a knighthood for his scientific work.
Edmond Halley personally financed the publication of Newton's Principia after the Royal Society was unable to cover the printing cost.
He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1693 and stopped doing scientific work for several years.
He wrote over a million words on alchemy and biblical prophecy — more than on physics.
Newton received an exceptionally prestigious burial in Westminster Abbey in 1727, where his grave remains in what is now known as Scientists' Corner.
Timeline
Born in Woolsthorpe, England (by modern calendar)
Entered Trinity College, Cambridge
Returned home during the plague; his most productive period
Built an early successful reflecting telescope
Elected to the Royal Society after presenting his reflecting telescope
Published the Principia at Halley's expense
Suffered a nervous breakdown
Appointed Warden of the Royal Mint
Became President of the Royal Society
Published 'Opticks'
Knighted by Queen Anne
Died in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey
Awards & honours
Related Super Scientists
Albert Einstein
1879–1955 · Theoretical Physicist
Developing the theory of relativity and the equation E=mc².
Galileo Galilei
1564–1642 · Astronomer & Physicist
Making pioneering telescopic observations that strongly supported heliocentrism and transformed observational astronomy.
Robert Hooke
1635–1703 · Biologist and Physicist
Coined the word "cell" after examining cork under a microscope and formulated Hooke’s Law on springs.
Articles about this scientist
How We Learned How Gravity Works
Why do objects fall, the Moon stay in orbit and planets circle the Sun? Discover how scientists gradually uncovered the physics of gravity.
How We Learned What Light Is
Discover how Ibn al-Haytham, Newton, Young, Maxwell and Einstein transformed our understanding of light, colour, waves and photons.