Britain Unlimited covers 250 Great British people and what made them famous

Who was Robert Hooke? Experimental Philosopher, Scientist and Architect. Date and Place of Birth: 18th July 1635, Freshwater, Isle of White. Family background: Son of John Hooke, curate in charge of the parish of Freshwater. Education: Westminster School, London. Christ Church, Oxford. Chronology: 1648: Death of his father. Robert sent to London for a trial with the painter Sir Peter Lely, but then moved to Westminster School, where the Headmaster Dr Richard Busby realised his genius. 1653: Took a scholar's place at Christ Church, Oxford. Worked as an assistant to John Wilkins on flying machines. 1658: Became assistant to Robert Boyle on the construction of his air pump. 1662: Appointed the first Curator of Experiments at the newly founded Royal Society of London but did not sit with the full members, Boyle, Wren, Wilkins and others but as an employee. 1665: Created Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, London. By now he was a full member of the Royal Society and the first salaried research assistant in Great Britain. He lived in College buildings until the end of his days. 1666: After the Great fire of London he was appointed as City Surveyor and designed the new Bethlehem Hospital (Now Imperial War Museum) and Montague House amongst other buildings. 1677-83: Secretary to the Royal Society of London. 1678: Anticipated Newton’s Law of Inverse Square in gravitation. He was a brilliant but argumentative person who became involved in numerous disputes, most notably with Sir Isaac Newton. He anticipated the discovery of the Steam Engine. He also constructed the first Gregorian reflecting telescope, which helped him to discover the fifth Star in Orion and the rotation of Jupiter. He also advanced the efficiency of microscopes, the quadrant and the marine barometer. Hooke’s Law describes the relationship between the stress and strains in elastic bodies.He worked on theories for the workings of the balance-spring of watches and the anchor escapement in clocks. Written Works: 1665: "Micrographia". 1674: "Attempt to Prove the Motion of the Earth". Marriage: Never married. Places of Interest: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Parish Church at Willen designed for his old Headmaster. LONDON: Bethlehem Hospital (Now Imperial War Museum). Royal Society of London. Montague House. OXFORD: Museum of the History of Science. Date and Place of Death: 3rd March 1703, London, England. Age at Death: 67. Site of Grave: St. Helen’s Church Bishopsgate, City of London, England.