Dates
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 428 Collections and/or Records:
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.
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:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.3990
Scope and Contents
Draft of 'De Mundi Systemate', first printed in 1731.
Dates:
c 1687
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.
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9597/2/18/81
Scope and Contents
Newton autograph.
Dates:
c 1710
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
Please enquire at the Manuscripts Reading Room desk if you would like to view items from the Macclesfield Collection.
