Newton’s birthplace is located in a rural area in Lincolnshire, England, at Woolsthorpe Manor (Woolsthorpe Manor), a dozen kilometers south of the town of Grantham, that is, Isaac · Barrosac Newton Manor (Isaac Newton Manor). On Sunday, April 12, 2015, a group of us drove from Cambridge to Newton’s former residence, admiring the fields, streams and woods along the road. After more than an hour, we arrived in the quiet countryside, Newton’s hometown, Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire. , surrounded by simple red-tiled farmhouses and trees.
There is a small blackboard hanging on the wall of the small house at the entrance of the manor, which reads "Closed due to wind". Because of the strong wind that day, the former residence was closed. Just when we were at a loss what to do, a car drove over and stopped at the gate of the former residence. It was the manager of the former residence. She opened the gate and was about to drive into the compound. We explained to her that we had come from afar and wanted to see the exterior of the former residence and the apple tree. She approved our request after asking for instructions, allowing us to have a look inside the courtyard of the former residence and the apple tree, but not to enter the former residence. We saw Newton's apple tree in the courtyard of his former residence. We still felt a little regretful because we were unable to visit the rooms of our former residence.
On Sunday, April 19, 2015, we came here again. Newton's former residence is a two-story building. On the front wall of the former residence are four windows on the first floor and three windows on the second floor. There are two eye-catching S's embedded above the lintel. The former residence is fully equipped with living room, kitchen, bedroom, showroom and studio. Some of Newton's works including "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" and manuscripts are displayed in the display room, and a panoramic view of Newton's alma mater, Trinity College, Cambridge, hangs on the wall. In addition to some manuscripts, the studio also has a simple astronomical telescope. Newton lived in a bedroom on the second floor. In addition to the bed, cabinet and chair, there was a portrait of Newton on the wall. An apple tree could be seen from the window on one side of the room. The nearly 400-year-old apple tree maintains its original appearance.
The apple tree is in the middle of the lawn in front of the house, with lush branches and leaves. As we all know, it was an apple that fell on his head from this apple tree in the summer of 1665 that inspired him to discover the law of gravity. There is also a plaque with a protection order issued by Queen Elizabeth II next to the apple tree.
In addition, Newton Manor also has a farm, a screening hall, etc., as well as a multi-functional hall used to introduce Newton's life and so on. Newton was born on Christmas Eve in 1642 in a farmer's family in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. Newton was a premature baby, weighing only 3 pounds at birth. Newton's father died 3 months before he was born. When he was two years old, his mother, Hannah Ayscough, remarried and moved into the home of her new husband, the Reverend Barnabus Smith. From then on, Newton was raised by his maternal grandmother, Margery Ayscough. Raised by Margery Ayscough. When he was 11 years old, his mother's step-husband died, and Newton returned to his mother.
From about the age of 5, Newton was sent to public schools. When he was a boy, Newton was not a child prodigy. He had ordinary qualifications and average grades, but he loved reading and reading books that introduced various simple mechanical model making methods, and was inspired by them to make some weird gadgets by himself. Such as windmills, wooden clocks, folding lanterns, etc. Later, forced by life, his mother asked Newton to drop out of school and work at home to farm. But Newton was not interested in farming and buried himself in books whenever he had the chance. Later, with the persuasion of his uncle, the young Newton was allowed to study in a middle school in Grantham, a town not far from his home. Grantham is a market town in Lincolnshire, England. It is located on the banks of the Witham River, 39 kilometers southwest of Lincoln. It is an authentic British town.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was also born here, in the red brick house on the corner of Parade Street. This is also a famous ancient battlefield during the English Civil War, where Oliver Cromwell first defeated the Royalists.
Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was a great British mathematician, physicist, astronomer and natural philosopher. He was born on December 25, 1642 in Glen, Lincolnshire, England. In the village of Woolsthorpe near Grantham, he entered Grantham Middle School - King's School (King's School) in 1655 at the age of 12. In 1661, when Newton was 19 years old, he entered Cambridge University and became a student of Trinity College. Here, Newton began to come into contact with a large number of natural science works. During the Great Plague in England in 1666, Cambridge University was closed and Newton left school to return home. This short time in his hometown became the golden years of Newton's scientific career. His three major achievements: calculus, universal gravitation, and optical analysis were conceived during this time. During this time he made some of the most famous experiments and discoveries of his life, especially in optics and mechanics, including the law of universal gravitation.
Shortly after Easter 1667, Newton returned to Cambridge University. In 1669, at the age of 26, Newton was promoted to professor of mathematics. In 1703, Newton was elected president of the Royal Society. In 1705, Newton was knighted. He is the first scientist to receive this honor.
In his later years, Newton lived a grand life in London. At this time, Newton was very wealthy. On March 31, 1727, the great scientist Isaac Newton passed away. Like many other distinguished Englishmen, he is buried in Westminster Abbey. His tombstone is engraved with: Let people hail such a great human glory that once existed in the world. The poet Alexander Pope wrote the following epitaph for Newton: "Nature and Nature's law lay hidden in darkness; God said: Let Newton come!" hid in night; God said, "Let Newton be," and all was light.) So, everything became light. His tomb is located in the center of the front hall of Westminster Abbey, that is, in the nave. Above the tomb stands a statue of Newton, whose stone statue is leaning on a pile of stone-carved books, flanked by two angels. Stone sculptures, and a giant globe to commemorate his outstanding achievements in science.
Written and photographed by Sun Keqin and Sun Bo
References
Sun Keqin, Sun Bo, 2017, Cambridge Time. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press.