Was Isaac Newton a political power player and imperial profiteer?
In short: Beyond his scientific genius, Isaac Newton spent his final thirty years in London navigating wealthy aristocratic circles and exerting significant political influence while serving as head of the Royal Mint.
This lecture by historian Patricia Fara explores the final three decades of Isaac Newton's life in London. The text explores his positions as President of the Royal Society and Master of the Mint, while also looking at his economic ties to imperial exploitation and trade.
Fara uses a William Hogarth oil painting to demonstrate these concepts of wealth and power; the work shows children performing John Dryden's play, The Indian Emperour—a staged conflict involving Montezuma and Hernando Cortez.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Arise, Sir Isaac! Newton’s London career - Patricia Fara
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