Isaac Newton, c mid-20th century

Sir Isaac Newton, born 4th January (or 25 December O.S.), died 31 March (20 March O.S.) 1721. Newton is one of the most prolific and famous scientists, and people, in history. Famous for the discovery of the properties of gravity and law of motion, he was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. His book 'Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy', published 1687, is credited with achieving the first great unification in physics and established the study of classical mechanics. Newton is also credited with solving the two-body problem and creating the three-body problem. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, achieving his BA in 1665, and MA in 1668. He was awarded Fellow of Royal Society in 1672, and knighted by Queen Anne in 1705. A member of the Whig party, he served two terms as an MP for the University of Cambridge in 1689-1890 and 1701-1702. He was also Master of the Royal Mint (1699-1727), in which he increased the security of coinage, making counterfeits harder to achieve, and entering a personal rivalry with famous counterfeit coiner William Chaloner, who he eventually proved guilty of high treason. Newton died in London in 1727. His funeral was attended by nobles and scientists, and he was then buried in Westminster Abbey, the first scientist to be buried there. As a bachelor, he had no direct family to inherit his wealth and estate, much of which was divested to other relatives.