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Newton, Sir Isaac, 1642-1727 (Knight, natural philosopher and mathematician)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1642 - 1727

Biography

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was born at Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, on 25 December 1642. He attended Grantham Grammar School, 1654-1656, before matriculating at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1661 (B.A., 1665), where he became a Fellow in 1667. In 1669 he was appointed Lucasian Professor at the university. Newton was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1672, and served as its President, 1703-1727. He was M.P. for Cambridge University, 1689 and 1701-1702. Newton's work on optics was published in 1704, and his research on the laws of motion appeared in his Principia, published in 1687. His other work included theological writings and the use of astronomy to try to amend ancient chronology. He was knighted in 1705, and died at Kensington, London, on 20 March 1727.

Found in 431 Collections and/or Records:

 Series

Catalogue of Manuscripts of Tycho Brahe, c 1700-c 1727

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4006.1: 1-2
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1700-c 1727
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Fonds

Charles Mason: Correspondence

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8564
Scope and Contents

Letters to Charles Mason and other papers, including an extract from the account book of Goodwich, Bishop of Ely; 'An epitome of Sir Isaac Newton's Opticks'; and a printed notice of 24 June 1811, regarding the installation of the Duke of Gloucester as Chancellor of Cambridge University. All are letters to Mason unless otherwise stated.

Dates: 1700-1811
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Series

Collations for the History of the Infinitesimal Analysis, c 1700-c 1712

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3968.10: 113-144
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1700-c 1712
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Fonds

College Notebook, 1664-1665

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4000
Scope and Contents

A small note-book, written from both ends, containing early exercises - extraction of the square and cube root, elementary Geometry, etc. - followed by annotations of Wallis's Arithmetica Infinitorum. This is preceded by a note of Newton's fixing by an entry in his account-book the date of the annotations as being in the winter 1664-1665, at which time he says he found the method of infinite series. Also notes on music, chances etc.

Dates: 1664-1665
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

Comparison of the weights of balls in water and in air, c 1685-c 1700

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965.10: 115
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: c 1685-c 1700
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Comparisons of Calculated Places of the Moon with Observations, c 1665-c 1727

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3966.15: 182-330
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1665-c 1727
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Contents of Des Maizeaux's'Recueil' and copies of some letters published therein, c 1720-c 1727

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3968.36: 505-538
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1720-c 1727
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Copy by Sir Isaac Newton Newton of Leibnitz's letter to Pierre RĂ©mond De Monmort, c 1716 (Original letter dated 9 April 1716)

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3968.31: 445-459
Scope and Contents

Also a draft of Newton's 'Observations' printed in Joseph's Raphson, "History of Fluxions" (1715), p.111.

Dates: c 1716 (Original letter dated 9 April 1716)
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Copy in Newton's hand of Leibnitz's letter to Hans Sloane, c 1715 (The date of the original letter is 29 December 1711.)

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3968.18: 258-262
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1715 (The date of the original letter is 29 December 1711.)
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Item

Copy letter from Isaac Newton [to John Smith?], 24 July 1675

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/2/18/43
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Primarily Newton autographs and letters to Newton.

Dates: 24 July 1675
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/macclesfield/1
 Item

Copy letter from Isaac Newton to the Duke d'Aumont, 27 May 1714

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/2/18/68*
Scope and Contents

Goes before f.68.

Dates: 27 May 1714
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/macclesfield/1
 Series

Copy of a French translation of a letter from John Keill to John Bernouilli, c 1710-c 1720

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3968.23: 339-367
Scope and Contents

With some notes in Newton's hand.

Dates: c 1710-c 1720
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Corrections to copy of Propositions on Motion forming probably an early draft of part of the Principia, 1690-1710

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965:8
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: 1690-1710
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

Corrections to First Edition of the Principia, c 1687-c 1712

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965:19
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: c 1687-c 1712
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

Corrections to the first edition of Principia, c 1690-c 1710

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965.8: 72-92
Scope and Contents

These papers contain corrections to the first edition of Principia and are not (as the 1888 catalogue suggests) pre-publication drafts.

Dates: c 1690-c 1710
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

Corrections to the first edition of the Principia, c 1687-c 1712

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965.19: 731-758
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: c 1687-c 1712
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

Corrections to the second edition of Principia, possibly part of a draft letter to Henry Pemberton, c 1713-c 1726

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965.13: 499
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: c 1713-c 1726
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

De compositione locorum solidorum, c 1665-c 1727

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3963.12: 127-152
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1665-c 1727
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

De computo serierum, c 1684

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/2/7
Scope and Contents

This is a revised version of the Specimina (Add.9597/2/6 and Add.3964.3: 7r-20v) from which (for reasons unknown) all references to Gregory and Leibniz are expunged. This is the first chapter: the two following ones are in the Portsmouth Collection at Add. 3964.3: 13r-14r (preliminary drafts and calculations are at Add. 3964.3: 11r-12v.) The item was probably split up c.1709-1710 when William Jones was contemplating an edition of Newton's mathematical papers.

Dates: c 1684
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/macclesfield/1
 Series

De gemmis, c 1670-c 1680

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3974.5
Scope and Contents

Another version of parts of Add. 3974.4, with the addition (on f.1r) of a passage on reasons for thinking that diamonds are coagulated from a fluid and fat substance.

Dates: c 1670-c 1680
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

De gemmis in genere, c 1670-c 1680

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3974.4
Scope and Contents

Notes, mostly from Berquen, Boethius, Tavernier and Boyle. Index of refraction in diamonds is given 41/100 on the authority of Halley. On p.3 is mentioned a very fragile and soft western Topaz which he found to have a specific gravity 4.27, though the sines of refraction were as 14 to 23 (could this be Baryte?). On p.7 he deduces from the cleavage that gems are crystallized like salts from juices which turn to stone. At the end are the gold and silver standards of different countries.

Dates: c 1670-c 1680
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

De metallo ad conficiendum speculum componendo et fundendo, c 1670-c 1700

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3973.11
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The Portsmouth Collection is the principal collection of Isaac Newton's scientific and mathematical papers, including early drafts of the Principia, and his correspondence with Oldenburg, Halley Flamsteed and many of the other most prominent scientists of his day.

Dates: c 1670-c 1700
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 Series

De Motu Corporum, 1684-1685

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965:5
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Fonds:

Early drafts of the Principia and related notes; additions, corrections and revisions to the Principia. This is the 'general' category: papers relating specifically to lunar theory or containing mathematical problems are classified separately.

Dates: 1684-1685
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

De motu corporum in mediis regulariter cedentibus, 1684

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3965.5a: 23-26
Scope and Contents

Written in the hand of Humphrey Newton and amended in the hand of Isaac Newton, this is an amplified version of the opening of Add. 3965.7: 40-54. It is revised further in Add. 3965.5: 21-22.

Dates: 1684
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Due to the fragile nature of the material access to the collection is restricted. It is available to view in the Cambridge University Digital Library at https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton/1 with the exception of MS.Add.4007, which is open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
 File

De motu corporum liber primus, 1670s

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Dd.09.46
Scope and Contents

Newton's Lucasian lectures. See also MSS Dd.04.18, Dd.09.67 and Dd.09.68.

Dates: 1670s
Conditions Governing Access: From the Collection: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

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Archival Object 421
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Subject
Mathematics 36
Calculus 15
Astronomy 6
Education 5
Geometry 5