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[[Image:Newton.png|right|thumb]]

[[Image:Newton.png|right|thumb]]

'''Sir Isaac Newton''' was an English [[scientist]] who lived from 1634 to 1727.  Newton was a physicist, astronomer, mathematician, alchemist, and government official.  He is best known for his [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]] and his [[Laws of Motion]].  He also developed [[calculus]] for the purpose of his work in [[physics]].<ref>Newton's discovery of [[calculus]] was independent of, and likely before, a similar discovery of [[calculus]] by the German physicist [[Gottfried Leibniz]]. (Each accused the other of plagiarism, but neither could prove it.  [http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html Newton Biography]).</ref>  In addition, Newton invented the reflecting [[telescope]], and made numerous other contributions to his fields of study.

'''Sir Isaac Newton''' was an English [[scientist]] who lived from 1634 to 1727.  Newton was a physicist, astronomer, mathematician, theologian, alchemist, and government official.  He is best known for his [[Theory of Universal Gravitation]], his [[Laws of Motion]], and his theories in optics, as well as invention of [[calculus]] .<ref>Newton's discovery of calculus was independent of, and likely before, a similar discovery of calculus by the German scientist [[Gottfried Leibniz]]. (Each accused the other of plagiarism, but neither could prove it.  [http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html Newton Biography]).</ref>  In addition, Newton invented the reflecting [[telescope]], and made numerous other contributions to his fields of study.  His [[Classical mechanics]] comprises of the four main fields of modern physics (alongside the later fields of electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics).

Newton was the first to demonstrate that the same laws that govern the motion of celestial objects also govern the motion of things on [[Earth]].  Newton contributed greatly to the advancement of science.  His work also advanced the concept of [[heliocentrism]] (the view that the [[Sun]] is at the center of the [[solar system]]).

Newton was the first to demonstrate that the same laws that govern the motion of celestial objects also govern the motion of things on [[Earth]].  Newton contributed greatly to the advancement of science.  His work also advanced the concept of [[heliocentrism]] (the view that the [[Sun]] is at the center of the [[solar system]]).

In 1705, in recognition of Isaac Newton's role as master of the Mint, [[Queen Anne]] [[knighted]] him.  <ref>Sir Isaac Newton (1642/3–1727): A Scientific Genius, by Ann Lamont[http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v12/i3/newton.asp]</ref>  It was the first knighthood to be given for scientific achievement rather than prowess on the battlefield or work in government.  <ref>Isaac Newton and God's Law of Gravity[http://www.doesgodexist.org/NovDec01/IsaacNewtonAndGodsLawOfGravity.html] </ref>   

In 1705, in recognition of Isaac Newton's role as master of the Mint, [[Queen Anne]] [[knighted]] him.  <ref>Sir Isaac Newton (1642/3–1727): A Scientific Genius, by Ann Lamont[http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v12/i3/newton.asp]</ref>  It was the first knighthood to be given for scientific achievement rather than prowess on the battlefield or work in government.  <ref>Isaac Newton and God's Law of Gravity[http://www.doesgodexist.org/NovDec01/IsaacNewtonAndGodsLawOfGravity.html] </ref>   

Newton is often seen as one of the most influential men in all of history and perhaps the greatest scientist ever.  His work was influential even in philosophy, as he inspired [[Kant]] to create the philosophical concepts of the [[categorical imperative]] and the [[synthetic a priori]].

Newton is often seen as one of the most influential men in all of history and perhaps the greatest scientist ever.  His work was influential in shaping the philosophical outlook of the entire [[Enlightenment]], especially after writers such as [[Voltaire]] published simlified versions comprehensible to the non-scientist.  

==Life==

==Life==

Newton was born on Christmas day December 25, 1642--the year Galileo died--in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire; his father died before his birth.<ref>  The father Isaac Newton (1606–1642) was illiterate but left extensive lands as well as goods worth £459, including a flock of 235 sheep and a herd of 46 cattle. The annual income was about £150.</ref>  The Newtons were a well-to-do, upwardly mobile family of farmers, but never had a prominent member. When he was a little more than two years old, his mother Hannah (1610–1679), remarried, and his upbringing was taken over by his maternal grandmother. He began his schooling in neighboring villages, and, at ten, was sent to the grammar school at Grantham, the nearest town of any size. He boarded during terms at the house of an apothecary from whom he may have derived his lifelong interest in chemistry. The young Newton seems to have been a quiet, not particularly bookish, lad, but very ready with his hands; he made sun dials, model windmills, a water clock, a mechanical carriage, and flew kites with lanterns attached to their tails.  

Newton was born on Christmas day December 25, 1642--the year Galileo died--in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire; his father died before his birth.<ref>  The father Isaac Newton (1606–1642) was illiterate but left extensive lands as well as goods worth £459, including a flock of 235 sheep and a herd of 46 cattle. The annual income was about £150.</ref>  The Newtons were a well-to-do, upwardly mobile family of farmers, but never had a prominent member. When he was a little more than two years old, his mother Hannah (1610–1679), remarried, and his upbringing was taken over by his maternal grandmother. He began his schooling in neighboring villages, and, at ten, was sent to the grammar school at Grantham, the nearest town of any size. He boarded during terms at the house of an apothecary from whom he may have derived his lifelong interest in chemistry. The young Newton seems to have been a quiet, not particularly bookish, lad, but very ready with his hands; he made sun dials, model windmills, a water clock, a mechanical carriage, and flew kites with lanterns attached to their tails.  

Newton took his bachelor's degree in January 1665 and was selected for a scholarship in 1664 and a fellowship in 1667.  Upon taking his MA he became one of Trinity college's sixty fellows, with an income of £60, part of which came in the form of room and board. He had no duties at Trinity over the next 28 years; he did no teaching apart from a few lectures (to nearly empty halls) and tutoring an occasional student. At the urging of Isaac Barrow in 1669 he wrote out some of his findings, which circulated in manuscript.  He invented the reflecting telescope, which caused a sensation in London in 1671 and his election to the Royal Society. Newton became Lucasian professor of mathematics in 1669 at £100 per annum. Added to his fellowship and family estate, Newton was well off.  He spent most of his time with experiments in alchemy and speculations in Arian theology, which had no influence whatever at the time or later. Newton made enemies easily, with an almost paranoid style of disputation. Many scientists in the era were repeatedly charging each other with plagiarism, and sometimes hid their discoveries in code so that in future years they could decode the message and claim priority.  In 1704 he published his great book on ''Opticks'', which had been mostly written three decades before.

Newton took his bachelor's degree in January 1665 and was selected for a scholarship in 1664 and a fellowship in 1667.  Upon taking his MA he became one of Trinity college's sixty fellows, with an income of £60, part of which came in the form of room and board. He had no duties at Trinity over the next 28 years; he did no teaching apart from a few lectures (to nearly empty halls) and tutoring an occasional student. At the urging of Isaac Barrow in 1669 he wrote out some of his findings, which circulated in manuscript.  He invented the reflecting telescope, which caused a sensation in London in 1671 and his election to the Royal Society. Newton became Lucasian professor of mathematics in 1669 at £100 per annum. Added to his fellowship and family estate, Newton was well off.  He spent most of his time with experiments in alchemy and speculations in Arian theology, which had no influence whatever at the time or later. Newton made enemies easily, with an almost paranoid style of disputation. Many scientists in the era were repeatedly charging each other with plagiarism, and sometimes hid their discoveries in code so that in future years they could decode the message and claim priority.  In 1704 he published his great book on ''Opticks'', which had been mostly written three decades before.

==National affairs==

==National affairs==