When Isaac Newton met Queen Anne

When Isaac Newton met Queen Anne, he was already a man of accomplishment within the scientific and creative world.

He might have found renown and fame in history for his scientific discoveries, but further insight into the life of Sir Isaac Newton demonstrates that he was a man who was proud to see himself as a public servant, a creative and a scholar. 

Newton was not a man of romance, and he never married, nor did he appear to have any lovers, but what we can see in his relationship with Queen Anne is that he held her in high regard and had the utmost respect for her.

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Who was Isaac Newton? 

Isaac Newton was born on January 4th, 1643, in the little hamlet of Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire. Famous for being the most renowned mathematician of his generation, he is still known as one of the most influential of all time. It was his work on optics and gravity that made him so famous, and this is his most well-known work.

Many people are familiar with the story of the apple that fell on Newton’s head, leading him to officially discover gravity. While there is no evidence that this was the inspiration (and while the story is mostly true, there is exaggeration), it remains a tale that has lived on through the ages.

How Sir Isaac Newton met Queen Anne

Isaac Newton first met Queen Anne in 1705, when he was knighted by her on April 16th. By this time, he had achieved a lifetime of success and made incredible contributions to the world of science and mathematics. His knighthood came just three years after Queen Anne was crowned, and she recognised the impact he had on the academic world.

The lavish ceremony was hosted at Trinity College in Cambridge University – of which Newton was an alum. From this point, he was known as Sir Isaac Newton.

The Evolution of the Relationship

Newton and Queen Anne were not close, and it would be difficult to class their relationship as friendship. However, there was a great deal of respect between them which is made clear by the actions of Sir Isaac.

In his mid-50s, Newton was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint, a position of great renown and a prime example of how much he was respected by the queen.

It was Newton who designed her coronation medal and the surviving sketches show how much thought went into the creation process. Depicting Queen Anne as a warrior, the powerful image elevated her in ways that were never explored again. In fact, it is thought that this strong imagery made many people nervous.

The design of the coronation coin beautifully conveys the way in which he saw the queen. She was a fearless woman with great strength, and one who sought to protect the country and people that she served. The godly warrior who was seen defeating the enemies of the country was short-lived, but it remains one of the most iconic coronation coins.

Their relationship might not have been deep and long-lasting, but the level of respect shared between Sir Isaac Newton and Queen Anne is inspiring.

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