Tell about Issac Newton ?

Newton and Alchemy

Following the publication of Principia, Newton was ready for a new direction in life.

He no longer found contentment in his position at Cambridge and was becoming more involved in other issues.

He helped lead the resistance to King James II's attempts to reinstitute Catholic teaching at Cambridge, and in 1689 he was elected to represent Cambridge in Parliament.

While in London, Newton acquainted himself with a broader group of intellectuals and became acquainted with political philosopher John Locke

. Though many of the scientists on the continent continued to teach the mechanical world according to Aristotle,

a young generation of British scientists became captivated with Newton's new view of the physical world and recognized him as their leader.

One of these admirers was Nicolas Fatio de Duillier, a Swiss mathematician whom Newton befriended while in London.

Changing the British Currency from Silver to the Gold Standard

In 1696, Newton was able to attain the governmental position he had long sought:

warden of the Mint; after acquiring this new title, he permanently moved to London and lived with his niece, Catherine Barton.

She was the mistress of Lord Halifax, a high-ranking government official who was instrumental in having Newton promoted,

in 1699, to master of the Mint—a position that he would hold until his death. Not wanting it to be considered a mere honorary position,

Newton approached the job in earnest, reforming the currency and severely punishing counterfeiters.

As master of the Mint, Newton moved the British currency, the pound sterling, from the silver to the gold standard.

Newton’s Death

By the time he reached 80 years of age, Newton was experiencing digestion problems and had to drastically change his diet and mobility.

In March 1727, Newton experienced severe pain in his abdomen and blacked out, never to regain consciousness.

He died the next day, on March 31, 1727, at the age of 84.