Living in a time when
there was no clear line between science and
superstition, Isaac Newton was that rare person
who could combine both theory and
practical work. His insatiable curiosity, deep
intuition, and ability to focus on a single
subject for days on end led him to develop
calculus, optics and the theory of gravity. He
investigated Biblical prophecy and wrote
roughly one million words on the study of alchemy.
On the other hand, he built the first
practical reflecting telescope, administered
Britain’s Great Recoinage of 1696, and made
the recommendations leading to the world
gold standard that lasted into the twentieth
century. Scouring taverns and other haunts
on his own, he successfully caught and prosecuted
dozens of treasonous counterfeiters
of the Crown’s coin. Newton wasn’t always
right: when the South Sea financial bubble
burst in 1720, he lost millions.
This one session class will introduce the
life of this extraordinary man brought to
you by Ken Allen. No knowledge of science
or mathematics is needed - just a
willingness to consider that one person
could accomplish so much in one life lifetime