Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician, widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history and a key figure of the 17th-century Scientific Revolution. Born on December 25, 1642 (January 4, 1643, New Style) in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, he made groundbreaking contributions to physics, mathematics, and optics

. Newton is best known for formulating the three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which laid the foundation for classical mechanics and shaped the modern understanding of the physical universe. His work unified the motion of celestial bodies and objects on Earth under the same principles. He also made seminal contributions to optics, discovering the composition of white light and advancing the study of color and light phenomena

. In mathematics, Newton was the original discoverer of infinitesimal calculus, independently developed around the same time as Leibniz. His major scientific work, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687), is considered one of the most important books in the history of science

. Beyond science, Newton was a polymath who engaged in alchemy, theology, and biblical studies, though much of this work remained unpublished during his lifetime. He served as a fellow and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, was a Member of Parliament for the University of Cambridge, and later became Warden and Master of the Royal Mint, where he improved the security and accuracy of British coinage. He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705 and served as President of the Royal Society until his death on March 20, 1727 (March 31, New Style)

. Newton's legacy endures as the father of modern physics and a towering intellect whose discoveries transformed science and our understanding of the universe