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/Biography of Robert Hooke:
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.
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.
Memorial to Hooke in St Paul's Cathedral,
London
(© Anthony Blagg)
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.
