A Short Biography of the Scientist Sir Isaac Newton

The separation from his mother at an early age appears to have left a permanent scar on young Isaac Newton that seemed to have followed him through the rest of his life. He never married or had any children and had but a few close friends. He would work frantically for days on end, seemingly without food or rest, resting only when the creative spirit left him. However, the work of this ponderous man would have a profound effect on the world as we know it today.
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician, who was a prominent figure in the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. In his study of optic, he discovered that white light is made up of different colored light. This laid the foundation for the modern field of physical optics. In the field of mechanics, his three laws of motion are the basis of principles of modern physics. This work resulted in the formation of the law of universal gravitation. In the area of mathematics, he was the original discoverer of the infinitesimal calculus. As the legend suggests, Newton was struck on the head by an apple and the theory of gravitation popped into his head – probably not! It was a slow deliberated process of discovery and was eventually published in his major work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principle of Natural Philosophy) in 1687. This work has been deemed one of the most important works of modern science.
Newton led a double life, a scholar during his public hours and an alchemist and heretic theologian in his private time away from the scrutiny of his peers. He worked for years in the dark science of alchemy and at his death, had one of the finest known collections of works on the subject. He wrote over a million words on theology and religion, yet few of these words were published during his life – his views were just too controversial for public consumption at that time.
Take a brief journey into the life of this most enigmatic man in the book A Short Biography of the Scientist Sir Isaac Newton.
30 Minute Book Series
Welcome to the first book in the “30 Minute Book Series”. Each book in the series is fast paced, well written, accurate, and covers the story in as much detail as a short book allows. In less than an hour, you can read or listen to the book – a perfect companion for a lunch hour or a nice distraction for a train ride home from work.
About the Author
Doug West is a retired engineer, small business owner, and an experienced non-fiction writer with several books to his credit. His writing interests are general, with special expertise in science, biographies, numismatics, and “How to” topics. Doug has a Ph.D. in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.