Isaac Newton (1642-1727, or 1643-1727)

(Newton was born at the time when the Julian Calendar was in use. According to this calendar, he was born on 25 December 1642 and died on 20 March 1727. According to the present day calendar, which is known as the Gregorian calendar, he was born on 4 January 1643 and died on 31 March 1727.)

• I don't know what I may seem to the world, but to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shel than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered around me.