Famous Yellow Bellies

He attended the Free Grammar School  in Grantham (now King Edward VI Grammar School), but was not considered a good student being labelled 'idle' and 'inattentive.'

It was decided that he should leave school and run the family estate, but he had no interest in this. He returned to school and despite his earlier performance showed great academic promise. In 1661 he was accepted to Trinity College Cambridge.

Laws of gravity

Between 1665 and 1667 the University of Cambridge was dispersed due to The Plague and Newton returned to Woolsthorpe Manor. Many of Newton's experiments took place there and he first conceived the law of gravity while watching an apple fall in the orchard.

Throughout his life Newton continued research into a wide range of subjects including mathematics, optics, astronomy and alchemy. He was also elected as Member of Parliament for the University, but only held this post for a year.

In 1703, he was elected as President of the Royal Society. This was not a popular move as many of the other members considered him rather cantankerous. Despite this he remained in the post until his death.

He was also the first man to be knighted for his scientific work, receiving the honour from Queen Anne in 1705.