ThesisStatement: Through his early life experiences and with the knowledge left by hispredecessors, Sir Isaac Newton was able to develop calculus, natural forces, andoptics. Frombirth to early childhood, Isaac Newton overcame many personal, social, andmental hardships. It is through these experiences that helped create the personsociety knows him as in this day and age. The beginning of these obstaclesstarted at birth for Newton. Isaac was born premature on Christmas Day 1642, inthe manor house of Woolsthorpe, 7 miles south of Grantham in Lincolnshire. It issaid that “Because Galileo, .
. . had died that year, a significance attachesitself to 1642″ (Westfall 1). Though his father had died before Isaac wasborn, he was given his fathers name. He was born into a farming family thathad worked their way slowly up the “social ladder”. The Newtons were oneof the few families to prosper in Lincolnshire (Westfall 1).
At the age of threeIsaacs life would take a drastic turn. When Isaac was three his mother,Hannah Ayscough, remarried to the Reverend Barnabas Smith (Internet-newtonia). Isaac and the Reverend never got along and the Reverend would not have a childthat was not his living with him. Isaac stayed with his grandparents when hismother went to live with the Reverend in North Witham. His maternal grandmotherraised Isaac until he was ten. It is believed that his mothers secondmarriage and her leaving caused many problems for Isaac as a child.
While livingwith his grandparents he attended day school nearby in Skillington and Stoke. Isaac was surrounded by many cousins and other family members in the surroundingarea though, “He formed no bond with any of his numerous relatives that can betraced later in his life” (Westfall 11). In 1653 his mother returned after hersecond husband died. With her she brought one half brother and two half sisters.
Although it is not known, bitterness may have inflicted Isaac when his three newsiblings arrived. Never the less, two years later at the age of twelve he wassent to Grantham to attend grammar school. While attending grammar school Isaaclived with the apothecary Mr. Clark (Westfall 12).
Mr. Clark had threestepchildren from the first marriage of his wife, Miss Storer, who were alsoliving in his house. In school and at home Isaac was apparently different anddid not get along with any other boys. He was often in fights and rememberedonly one nice boy from school, Chrichloe. All the other boys seemed to hate him.
He was more comfortable in the company of girls. He made doll furniture for Mr. Clarks daughter. From this Isaacs first and last romantic experiencedeveloped. “Indeed, as the two grew older, something of a romance apparentlydeveloped between him and Miss Storer” (Westfall 13). From doll furnitureNewton moved on to other little machines.
He used all the money his mother senthim to buy tools and filled his room with the machines. He fell in love with Mr. Clarks library and would read as often as possible. At times he would spendso much time on projects that he would fall behind in school.
When he realizedhe was falling behind all Isaac had to do was pick up his textbook and wouldimmediately be caught up. Through his machines Newton became proficient indrawing and his inventions steadily became more elaborate. At the age ofseventeen in 1659, Newton left Mr. Clark and had another life changingexperience.
When Newton was seventeen his mother took him out of school andbrought him back to the family farm. Trying to teach him how to run the farm andmanage the estate was a failure. Newton would always bribe a hired hand to dothe work he was supposed to. When he was supposed to be in town selling producehe would go to his old room in Mr. Clarks house and read or play with hismachines. In all of his spare time he returned to inventing and buildingmachines.
Newtons uncle and old schoolmaster saw that he was in the wrongtrade and urged his mother to prepare him to attend the University (Westfall17). In 1660 he returned to Grantham to finish grammar school and prepare forthe university. In June of 1661 Newton entered Trinity College, Cambridge(Internet-groups). While at Cambridge Newton studied mathematics (Internet-newtonia). This is when Newton first started to delve into the many discoveries he wouldsoon be making.
