Isaac Newton: The Revolutionary Scientist Who Changed the World

Sir Isaac Newton was a great scientist from Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, born on January 4, 1643 (according to the Gregorian calendar and December 25, 1642, Julian calendar). In the 17th century scientific revolution, this man was so influential that most of his discovery changed the physics, mathematics, and astronomy which were the strong foundation for science in the current world.

Youth and Early Education

Newton’s childhood was full of difficulties. His father died three months before his birth, and after his mother’s remarriage, he was taken care of by his grandmother. However, even under such difficulties, Newton demonstrated extraordinary intellectual interest from a young age. He went to The King’s School in Grantham and, in 1661, attended Trinity College, Cambridge. Here, he learned from the leading scientists and philosophers, such as Galileo, Descartes, and Kepler.

Breakthrough Discoveries

The outbreak of the Great Plague in 1665 sent Newton back to his family home, where he began a period of intense creativity often referred to as his “Annus Mirabilis” or “Year of Wonders.” It was during this period that he made significant advancements in mathematics, optics, and physics.

Mathematics: Newton developed calculus, a mathematical framework that revolutionized the way scientists understood change and motion. Although his work on calculus was initially unpublished, it later became a cornerstone of modern mathematics.
Optics: Newton’s experiments with light led to the discovery that white light comprises a spectrum of colors. He demonstrated this by passing light through a prism, showing its decomposition into the colors of the rainbow.
Physics: His most famous contribution was his laws of motion. He published his laws of motion, along with the theory of universal gravitation, in his great book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica in 1687. These laws explain planetary motion and terrestrial mechanics as a whole.

Professional Career and Recognition

In 1667, Newton was elected Fellow of Trinity College, and in 1669, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He entered politics when he was elected Member of Parliament in 1689. He later became Master of the Royal Mint, in which capacity he reformed the currency system of England. In 1703, he was elected President of the Royal Society, a position he held until his death.

Legacy and Influence

Newton’s contribution to science is not limited by his lifetime. His laws of motion and theory of gravity stood until the dawn of the 20th century with Einstein’s theory of relativity. Outside science, Newton was a religious person who spent most of his time studying theology.

Death and Legacy

Isaac Newton died on March 31, 1727, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, an honor reserved for the most distinguished individuals in British history. His epitaph reads: “Here is buried Isaac Newton, knight, who by a strength of mind almost divine, and mathematical principles uniquely his own, explored the course and figures of the heavens.”

Newton’s curiosity, discipline, and revolutionary discoveries continue to inspire generations of scientists and thinkers. His life is an example of human intellect and persistence.