Isaac Newton

1642 – 1727

Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer whose 1687 Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, providing the first unified mathematical description of motion on Earth and in the heavens. He independently developed calculus alongside Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and produced foundational work in optics, including his prism experiments demonstrating that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors. He served as Master of the Royal Mint and as president of the Royal Society from 1703 until his death in 1727.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM