Newton was born at Woolsthorpe in the parish of Colsterworth,
Lincolnshire and educated in Grantham and at Trinity College
Cambridge. He became a Fellow of Trinity in 1667 and was Lucasian
Professor from 1669 to 1702. Elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society in 1672, Newton served as its President from 1705 to
1727. He became Master of the Mint in 1699 and was knighted in
April 1705.
Newton is most commonly known for his conception of the law of
universal gravitation, but his other discoveries and inventions
in mathematics (e.g. the binomial theorem, differential and
integral calculus), optics, mechanics, and astronomy place him at
the very forefront of all scientists. His study and understanding
of light, the invention of the reflecting telescope (1668), and
his revelation in his Principia of the mathematical ordering of
the universe are all represented on his monument in Westminster
Abbey.
Newton died at Kensington on 20 March 1727 and was buried in
the Abbey on 28 March. Before the funeral his body lay in state
in the Jerusalem Chamber and his coffin was followed to its grave
by most of the Fellows of the Royal Society. The Lord Chancellor,
two dukes and three earls were pall bearers.
Newton's grave is in front of the choir screen, close to his
monument. The Latin inscription reads: Hic depositum est, quod
mortale fuit Isaaci Newtoni. This may be translated as 'Here lies
that which was mortal of Isaac Newton'.
Newton's Monument
Newton's monument stands against the choir screen, to the
north of the entrance to the choir. It was executed by the
sculptor Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) to the designs of the
architect William Kent (1685-1748) and dates from 1731.
The monument is of white and grey marble. Its base bears a
Latin inscription (see below) and supports a sarcophagus with
large scroll feet and a relief panel. The latter depicts boys
using instruments related to Newton's mathematical and optical
work (including the telescope and prism) and his activity as
Master of the Mint. Above the sarcophagus is a reclining figure
of Newton, in classical costume, his right elbow resting on
several books representing his great works. They are labelled
'Divinity', 'Chronology', 'Opticks' [1704] and 'Philo. Prin.
Math' [Philosophia Naturalis Principia Mathematica, 1686-7)].
With his left hand he points to a scroll with a mathematical
design, held by two standing winged boys. The background is a
pyramid on which is a celestial globe with the signs of the
Zodiac, of the constellations, and with the path of the comet of
1680. On top of the globe sits a figure of Astronomy leaning upon
a book.
The monument originally stood out against the flat front of
the choir screen, but was enclosed within a decorative arch when
Edward Blore re-modelled the screen in 1834.
The inscription reads:
H. S. E. ISAACUS NEWTON Eques Auratus, / Qui, animi vi
prope divinâ, / Planetarum Motus, Figuras, / Cometarum semitas,
Oceanique Aestus. Suâ Mathesi facem praeferente / Primus
demonstravit: / Radiorum Lucis dissimilitudines, / Colorumque
inde nascentium proprietates, / Quas nemo antea vel suspicatus
erat, pervestigavit. / Naturae, Antiquitatis, S. Scripturae, /
Sedulus, sagax, fidus Interpres / Dei O. M. Majestatem
Philosophiâ asseruit, / Evangelij Simplicitatem Moribus
expressit. / Sibi gratulentur Mortales, / Tale tantumque
exstitisse / HUMANI GENERIS DECUS. / NAT. XXV DEC. A.D. MDCXLII.
OBIIT. XX. MAR. MDCCXXVI
This can be translated as follows:
Here is buried Isaac Newton, Knight, who by a strength of
mind almost divine, and mathematical principles peculiarly his
own, explored the course and figures of the planets, the paths of
comets, the tides of the sea, the dissimilarities in rays of
light, and, what no other scholar has previously imagined, the
properties of the colours thus produced. Diligent, sagacious and
faithful, in his expositions of nature, antiquity and the holy
Scriptures, he vindicated by his philosophy the majesty of God
mighty and good, and expressed the simplicity of the Gospel in
his manners. Mortals rejoice that there has existed such and so
great an ornament of the human race! He was born on 25th
December, 1642, and died on 20th March 1726/7.
Translation from G.L. Smyth, The Monuments and Genii of St.
Paul's Cathedral, and of Westminster Abbey (1826), ii, 703-4.