Robert Hooke: Difference between revisions

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Robert Hooke

British scientist, one of the leading members of the Royal Society. Born July 18, 1635, in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, died 1703 at Gresham College, London. At the age of 13 he briefly studied painting with Peter Lely, but had to give up because he was allergic to the paint fumes. Afterwards educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Early experiments and collaborations with Robert Boyle. In 1662 Hooke was appointed curator of experiments at the Royal Society. He is elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FSR) in 1663. He becomes professor of Geometry at Gresham College in 1665. After the Great Fire of 1666 he was appointed as member of the Crown Commission devoted to the rebuilding of London, together with Christopher Wren, Hugh May and Roger Pratt. Amongst other buildings, Hooke is responsible for redesigning Bethlem (or Bedlam) Hospital. In 1677, he replaced Henry Oldenburg as its Secretary (he resigned from the post in 1682).

As scientist, Hooke worked in the fields of astronomy, mechanics and optics. Nowaydays, he is associated with his law of elasticity, “which states the stretching of a solid body (e.g., metal, wood) is proportional to the force applied to it" (Encyclopædia Britannica). In September of 1664 he discovers the fifth star in the Orion trapezium. Around 1665 he publishes Micrographia, a seminal work on the microscope. He briefly quarrels with Isaak Newton, accusing Newton of having plagiarised his "discourse on colour" from Micrographia. Newton has to admit that he had "used Hooke's research as an inspiration for his own" (http://www.roberthooke.com). Other people attacked for stealing his ideas were Huygens and Henry Oldenburg. Hooke perfectly followed the Royal Society's focus on the "improvement of all usefull Sciences and Arts". His invention of the spiral spring improved the mechanism of watches. In addition to this, Hooke improves the telescope. And he sets the "thermometrical zero at the freezing point of water" (http://www.roberthooke.com). Five years later he discovered

Sources:

www.roberthooke.com

The New Encyclopædia Britannica,in 32 vol.[1974], Encyclopædia Britannica

Arnold-Baker, Charles: The Companion to British History, 1996.

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 == Robert Hooke ==
-A British scientist, born 1635 in Freshwater, Isle of Wight and died 1703 in London. He discovered the law of elasticity and did researches in a remarkable variety of fields.
+British scientist, one of the leading members of the [[Royal Society]]. Born July 18, 1635, in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, died 1703 at Gresham College, London.
+At the age of 13 he briefly studied painting with Peter Lely, but had to give up because he was allergic to the paint fumes. Afterwards educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Early experiments and collaborations with [[Robert Boyle]]. In 1662 Hooke was appointed curator of experiments at the Royal Society. He is elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FSR) in 1663. He becomes professor of Geometry at Gresham College in 1665. After the [[Great Fire]] of 1666 he was appointed as member of the Crown Commission devoted to the rebuilding of London, together with Christopher Wren, Hugh May and Roger Pratt. Amongst other buildings, Hooke is responsible for redesigning Bethlem (or Bedlam) Hospital. In 1677, he replaced Henry Oldenburg as its Secretary (he resigned from the post in 1682).
+As scientist, Hooke worked in the fields of astronomy, mechanics and optics. Nowaydays, he is associated with his law of elasticity, “which states the stretching of a solid body (e.g., metal, wood) is proportional to the force applied to it" (Encyclopædia Britannica). In September of 1664 he discovers the fifth star in the Orion trapezium. Around 1665 he publishes ''Micrographia'', a seminal work on the microscope. He briefly quarrels with Isaak Newton, accusing Newton of having plagiarised his "discourse on colour" from ''Micrographia''. Newton has to admit that he had "used Hooke's research as an inspiration for his own" (http://www.roberthooke.com). Other people attacked for stealing his ideas were Huygens and Henry Oldenburg.
-he was employed by [[Robert Boyle]]. Five years later he discovered his law of elasticity, “which states the stretching of a solid body (e.g., metal, wood) is proportional to the force applied to it." (Encyclopædia Britannica)
+Hooke perfectly followed the Royal Society's focus on the "improvement of all usefull Sciences and Arts". His invention of the spiral spring improved the mechanism of watches. In addition to this, Hooke improves the telescope. And he sets the "thermometrical zero at the freezing point of water" (http://www.roberthooke.com).
-In September of 1664 he discovers the fifth star in the Orion trapezium.
+Five years later he discovered
-Hooke published Micrographia, a seminal work on microscope. This publication brings him “well deserved worldwide scientific acclaim.” (www.roberthooke.com)
-After the [[Great Fire]] of 1666 he redesigned the Bethlem Hospital.
-In 1678 he was involved in the invention of the watch. He applied the spiral spring.
-Robert Hooke a member of the [[Royal Society]] of London. 1662 he was appointed curator of experiments, he is elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FSR) in 1663. He replaced Henry Oldenburg as Royal Society secretary in 1677. In 1682 he resigned as secretary.
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-'''Literature:'''
+'''Sources:'''
 www.roberthooke.com
-The new Encyclopædia Britannica,in 32 vol.[1974],Encyclopædia Britannica
+''The New Encyclopædia Britannica'',in 32 vol.[1974], Encyclopædia Britannica
-Arnold-Baker, Charles: The companion to British history, 1996.
+Arnold-Baker, Charles: ''The Companion to British History'', 1996.