Newton's Timeline and Other Significant Events

 

 

Isaac Newton's Time Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life

Science

National

1642

Father died in October, Newton born at Woolsthorpe Manor, Grantham, on Christmas Day, December 25th

Death of Galileo

Charles I raised his standard at Nottingham: Outbreak of Civil War                                    

1649

May have attended same dame school in Colsterworth and Skillington as the Storer children

 

Charles I executed by Parliament

1654

 

 

Cromwell appointed Lord Protector

1655

Attended Free Grammar School, Grantham (now known as The King's School, Grantham). Carved his name in the School window ledge. Lodged with the Clarke family including the Storer children, in Grantham

Euclidis Elementa         published by Stokes, Newton's tutor at the Free Grammar School

 

1660

 

Royal Society founded

Restoration of the Monarchy: Charles II crowned King

1661

Went to Trinity College, Cambridge

 

 

1665

Graduated as Bachelor of Arts. August: Returned to Woolsthorpe because of the Plague

Newton's experiments on gravitation; he also evolved Binomial Theorum and discovered Differential Calculus

Great Plague in London

1666

Saw apple falling from tree at Woolsthorpe Manor

Newton discovered Integral Calculus, and developed Theory of Colours

September 1st: Great Fire of London

1667

Returned to Cambridge. Awarded fellowship of Trinity College

 

Christopher Wren started to re-build London

1668

 

Newton constructed reflecting telescope

 

1669

Appointed Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge

 

 

1674

Remained at university and researching most years until 1696

 

 

1675

 

Newton experiments on Static Electricity

 

1679

Newton's mother, Hannah, died of a fever; Newton present at her death

 

 

1682

 

Comet identified by Newton's friend, Arthur Storer, however comet later to be named after Edmund Halley who realised that it returned at regular intervals. Known as Halley's Comet

 

1685

 

 

Death of Charles II; accession of James II

1687

 

The Principia published in 3 sections in Latin

 

1688

 

 

 'Glorious Revolution' -                 William and Mary of Orange invited to reign; James II fled England

1689

Elected M.P. for Cambridge. First surviving portrait by Godfrey Kneller

 

 

1693

Had mental breakdown

 

 

1694

 

 

Death of Queen Mary II

1696

Moved to London; became Warden of the Royal Mint

 

 

1699

Elected to the Council of the Royal Society. Completed his revision of the country's coinage

 

 

1700

Became Master of the Royal Mint, to solve government currency problem

 

 

1701

Elected M.P. for Cambridge a 2nd time. Resigned Chair of Mathematics

 

 

1702

 

 

Death of William III; accession of Queen Anne

1703

Elected President of the Royal Society; was to be re-elected President for the remainder of his life

 

 

1704

 

Opticks published

 

1705

Knighted by Queen Anne at Cambridge; 'Sir Isaac Newton'. Failed to be re-elected to Parliament

 

 

1706

 

Revised edition of Opticks published

 

1707

 

 

Act of Union between England and Scotland

1713

 

Second edition of Principia published

 

1714

 

 

Death of Queen Anne; accession of George I

1716

 

Death of Leibnitz, who discovered calculus at the same time as Newton

 

1717

 

2nd edition of Opticks       published

 

1721

 

3rd edition of Opticks         published

 

1725

Moved to Kensington; health deteriorating

 

 

1726

 

3rd edition of Principia published

 

1727

Newton died 20th March. Buried in Westminster Abbey

 

Death of George I; accession of George II

1729

 

 

Principia published in English for the first time

 




 

© The King's School, Grantham                              Page updated December 2011