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The private life of Isaac Newton
A public history of science lecture with historian Sarah Dry, as part of Open House Weekend
Event details
When Isaac Newton died in 1727, he left behind more than ten million written words on religion, alchemy and church history. Unseen by almost anyone else during his lifetime, these private writings had the potential to undermine not just Newton's reputation but science itself.
In this lecture, the nearly 300 year history of these papers, which have been suppressed, scattered and painstakingly reconstructed by scholars, will be shared. Full of surprising and eccentric characters, from the co-discoverer of Neptune to a Jewish Biblical scholar to renowned economist John Maynard Keynes, the story of Newton’s papers is also the story of changing attitudes towards the private and public lives of scientists, the relationship between science and religion, and the role of science in society.
Attending this event
This event, part of Open House Weekend, is free to attend and open to all. No tickets are required. Doors open at 12.30pm and seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
This event is fully accessible. Further information about accessibility is available.
Recorded audio will be available on this page a few days after the event.
Enquiries: Contact the events team.