Although Newton is best known for his theory of universal gravitation and discovery of calculus, his interests were much broader than is usually appreciated. In addition to his celebrated scientific and mathematical writings, Newton also wrote many alchemical and theological texts, and he left many administrative papers in his role as Warden and then Master of the Mint.

The two presentations will consider the way that Newton worked with printed and manuscript sources in constructing written arguments in both alchemy and the history of mythology, providing new interpretations of a chemical and a theological manuscript in the Yahuda collection. The intention will be to draw out Newton’s methods of working and to demonstrate the depth of interpretation that modern scholarship can achieve in the recreation of his intellectual activities.

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William R. Newman is Distinguished Professor and Ruth N. Halls Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Indiana. He is one of the leading interpreters of early modern chemistry and has published widely, most recently (2019), Newton the Alchemist.

Derrick Mosley completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2022, and wrote his dissertation on the chronology, personal library, and scholarly methods of the British antiquarian Sir John Marsham. His current work involves the history of reading, using data, and managing information in early modern Europe.

Scott Mandelbrote is fellow and Perne librarian at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. He was co-founder of the Newton Project, now based at the University of Oxford, of which he is editorial director.

Although Newton is best known for his theory of universal gravitation and discovery of calculus, his interests were much broader than is usually appreciated. In addition to his celebrated scientific and mathematical writings, Newton also wrote many alchemical and theological texts, and he left many administrative papers in his role as Warden and then Master of the Mint.

The two presentations will consider the way that Newton worked with printed and manuscript sources in constructing written arguments in both alchemy and the history of mythology, providing new interpretations of a chemical and a theological manuscript in the Yahuda collection. The intention will be to draw out Newton’s methods of working and to demonstrate the depth of interpretation that modern scholarship can achieve in the recreation of his intellectual activities.

‍

William R. Newman is Distinguished Professor and Ruth N. Halls Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Indiana. He is one of the leading interpreters of early modern chemistry and has published widely, most recently (2019), Newton the Alchemist.

Derrick Mosley completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2022, and wrote his dissertation on the chronology, personal library, and scholarly methods of the British antiquarian Sir John Marsham. His current work involves the history of reading, using data, and managing information in early modern Europe.

Scott Mandelbrote is fellow and Perne librarian at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. He was co-founder of the Newton Project, now based at the University of Oxford, of which he is editorial director.

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