Sir Isaac Newton Biography

Revered as one of the greatest names in the history of human thought. Isaac Newton was a philosopher, mathematician and scientist. He was perhaps the most talented greatest mathematician of his generation and look at as the most influential theorist in the history of science. His studies and finding on gravitation and optics puts him elite group of scientists the world has ever seen. Not to mention he also created calculus we all love and hate today.

Isaac Newton was born on December 25, 1645 in Woolsthopre, Lincolnshire, England. His father was a successful farmer also named Isaac Newton, but he died 3 months before the birth of his son. He was born prematurely so he was very small. Hannah Ayscough, Newton’s mother, said that as an infant Isaac was so tiny that he was small enough to fit in a quart mug. Based on this information, we could assume that he was born about 11 to 15 weeks early. When Isaac was 3, his mother married Barnabas Smith, a rich minister from North Witham, leaving Isaac with his grandmother. He loathed his stepfather very deeply and held bitterness toward his mother for marrying him, according to the list of sins recorded up to age 19 “threatening my father and mother Smith to burn them and the house over them.” 8 years later Smith dies and Isaac’s mother is widowed for the second time and returns home bringing along 3 children, Isaacs half brother and 2 half sisters. 2 years later, Newton attends Grammar School in Grantham. Newton’s mother is now a fairly wealthy lady, plans on having her oldest son to take care and manage the farms and the property. However, he has no talent or interest in managing the properties and is turns to be a total failure at farming. The brother of his mother, a minister, notices Newton’s talent and passion for learning.

He convinces Newton’s mother to send him to college, and in 1661, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. He paid his first 3 years of tuition by waiting tables and cleaning for the faculty and wealthier students. Luckily in 1664, he became a scholar which meant 4 years of guaranteed financial support. Unfortunately, due to the Bubonic Plague spreading around Europe, the university closed down and Newton went back home. There he spent 2 years studying physics and math, and during this time he had begun to understand theory of optics and the gravitational theory.