This Day in Science History - July 18 - Robert Hooke

July 18 is Robert Hooke's birthday. Hooke was a central figure in English science through the latter half of the 17th Century. As the Royal Society's Curator of Experiments, he performed several scientific demonstrations at each weekly meeting of the Society. He was the man who constructed the first compound microscope and showed the world views that had never been seen before. He also was known for his famous feud with Issac Newton.

Hooke and Newton exchanged letters about theories to explain the elliptical orbits of the planets and the possibility of an inverse square rule for gravity. When Newton published his Principia, he did not credit anything to Hooke. When Hooke disputed Newton's claims, Newton denied any wrong. The resulting feud between the leading English scientists of the time would continue until Hooke's death.

Some would say Newton got the last word when he became the President of the Royal Society that same year. Several of Hooke's personal effects, collections and instruments as well as the only known portrait of the man went missing. There are a few who believe Newton purposely discarded anything having to do with his rival, but no evidence has never been found to substantiate this claim.

Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.

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