Robert Hooke

Robert Hooke, FRS (July 18, 1635 - March 3, 1703), one of the greatest experimental scientists of the seventeenth century, played an important role in the scientific revolution.

Related Topics:
FRS - July 18 - 1635 - March 3 - 1703 - Seventeenth century - Scientific revolution

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Born in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, Hooke received his early education at Westminster School. In 1653, Hooke won a place at Christ Church, Oxford. There he met Robert Boyle, and gained employment as his assistant. In 1660, he discovered Hooke's law of elasticity, which describes the linear variation of tension with extension in an elastic spring. In 1662, Hooke gained appointment as Curator of Experiments to the newly founded Royal Society, and took responsibility for experiments performed at its meetings. In 1665 he published a book entitled Micrographia, which contained a number of microscopic and telescopic observations, and some original biology. Indeed, Hooke coined the biological term cell -- so called because his observations of plant cells reminded him of monks' cells. Also in 1665 he gained appointment as Professor of Geometry at Gresham College.

Related Topics:
Freshwater - Isle of Wight - Westminster School - 1653 - Christ Church - Oxford - Robert Boyle - 1660 - Hooke's law - Elasticity - Tension - Elastic - 1662 - Royal Society - 1665 - Micrographia - Microscopic - Telescopic - Biology - Cell - Monk - Geometry - Gresham College

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Robert Hooke also achieved fame as the chief assistant of Christopher Wren, helping to rebuild London after the Great Fire in 1666. He worked on designing the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the infamous Bethlem Royal Hospital (which became known as 'Bedlam').

Related Topics:
Christopher Wren - Great Fire - 1666 - Royal Greenwich Observatory - Bethlem Royal Hospital

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He died in London in 1703. No authenticated portrait of him survives, although the historian Lisa Jardine claims one portrait of John Ray represents Robert Hooke, and a seal used by Hooke displays a man's head that some have argued portrays Hooke. Both these claims remain in dispute, however.

Related Topics:
London - Lisa Jardine - John Ray

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