Alchemy (attempting to find the Philosopher’s Stone) may have actually cost him his life. Namely, an inordinate amount of mercury was found in his body, which points to the possibility of poisoning while conducting alchemical experiments.
Isaac Newton, possibly the greatest scientist in history, was born on this day according to the Gregorian calendar. He was born in a hamlet in the English county of Lincolnshire. His parents were local farmers of good standing. Isaac was a posthumous child, since his father died three months before his birth. Isaac was also born prematurely, so that his mother claimed he was so small he could fit in a quarter-gallon (1.1-liter) glass.
Like many great scientists, Isaac was different from other children to the point that some psychologists believe he could have been mildly autistic. He never married, but was engaged once. He allegedly made his most important discovery, the Theory of Gravity, after watching an apple fall from a tree. It appears that story isn’t a myth because Newton himself recounted it numerous times. However, the apple fell near him rather than on his head.
After making famous discoveries in the fields of mathematics and physics, Newton turned to that what really interested him – researching the Bible and alchemy. He was very religious and tried to decipher the Holy Writ. Alchemy (attempting to find the Philosopher’s Stone) may have actually cost him his life. Namely, an inordinate amount of mercury was found in his body, which points to the possibility of poisoning while conducting alchemical experiments.
