Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

Isaac Newton was perhaps the first modern scientist. He discovered the fundamental laws of motion, a law of universal gravitation, and the spectral nature of light. He was also co-inventor of differential calculus. (Painting by Godfrey Kneller, 1689.) Source: High Altitude Observatory (http://web.hao.ucar.edu/public/education/sp/images/newton.gif).