Robert Hooke :: biographies bio

Robert Hooke , the son of John Hooke was bonr at Freshwater, a part of the Isle of Wight. Robert's father was a curator for The All Saint's Church in thier town. Robert Hooke was born on July 18, 1635. The majority of young Hooke's education was provided by his father John, but he also became an aprentice to an artist. Robert moved to London and enrolled into the Westminister School when he was thirteen after his father committed suicide. The head master, Dr. Busby, took him in and encouraged is learning. Hooke apears to have been an avid learner. According to Hooke's biography at roberthooke.org, Young Robert Hooke has been reported to have learned many ancient languages, mastered the first six books of Euclid's Elements in week, and learned to play the organ. A quote from one of Hooke's conteporaries, Christiaan Huyghens: 'As to his person he was but despicable, being very crooked, tho' I have heard from himself, and others, that he was strait till about 16 Years of Age when he first grew awry, by frequent practicing, with a Turn-Lath . . . He was always very pale and lean, and laterly nothing but Skin and Bone, with a meagre aspect, his eyes grey and full, with a sharp ingenious Look whilst younger; his nose but thin, of a moderate height and length; his mouth meanly wise, and upper lip thin; his chin sharp, and Forehead large; his Head of a middle size. He wore his own hair of a dark Brown colour, very long and hanging neglected over his Face uncut and lank....† (roberthooke.org) Robert Hooke became Robert Boyle's assistant in 1658 due to his aptitude for making experimental equipment and designing experiments. In 1662 Hooke became the curator of experiments for the Royal Scociety of London. Besides being an accomplished scientist, Robert Hooke was also an architect and helped rebuild London after the great fire. In 1665 Hooke became a professor at Gresham College in London. He was a professor of geometry, but he performed many astronomical observations as well. Hooke spent the rest of his life working at the college. He became a secretary for the Royal Scociety in 1677. This brilliant figure died on the third of March 1703 in London. Robert Hooke's most famous scientific work was his book Micrographia, which he published in 1665. This book is a collection of observations from his homemade compound microscope and illumination system.