Isaac Newton: Quick Facts

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Oct. 5, 2026

Also Known As	Sir Isaac Newton
Born	January 4, 1643 • England
Died	March 31, 1727 (aged 84) • London • England
Notable Works	“Opticks” • “Principia” • “The Method of Fluxions and Infinite Series”
Subjects Of Study	Galilean transformations • Newtonian fluid • Newtonian reflector • Newton’s interpolation formula • Newton’s iterative method • Newton’s law of cooling • Newton’s law of gravitation • Newton’s laws of motion • Newton’s rings • calculus • colour • corpuscular theory of light • force • gravitation • gravity • inverse-square law • light • planet • reflecting telescope • reflection • refraction • space motion • white light
Role In	Scientific Revolution

Newton's studies of the occult and alchemy are what led him to the concept of gravity.
Newton and John Locke, the philosopher, were friends and colleagues.
Newton was driven by a focus on observation; so, rather than simply trust texts about optics, he stuck a needle in his eye to see what the effect would be.
Because of the popularity of his fighting against the Catholicization of Cambridge, Newton was elected a member of Parliament.