Sir Issac Newton Newton was born on December 25,1642. He was an English mathematician and physicist, considered one of the greatest scientist in history, who made important contributions to many fields of science. His discoveries and theories laid the foundation for much of the progress in science since his time. Newton was one of the inventors of the branch of mathematics called Calculus. He also solved the mysteries of light and optics. Formulated the three laws of motions, and derived from them the law of universal gravitation. Newton's birth place was at Woolsthorpe, near Grantham in Linclon