Isaac Newton was an English mathematician and scientist and a central figure in the revolutionary period known as the Enlightenment. He also led the way as a natural philosopher, astronomer, theologian, physicist, and author. Newton established classical mechanics with his book Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy and formulated the laws of universal gravitation and motion. His mathematical description of gravity led him to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, trajectories of comets, and account for the tides. Newton’s theory of color and his work on celestial mechanics led to his creation of the first practical refracting telescope.
