Robert Hooke :: biographies bio

Robert Hooke was an Englishman, born in Freshwater, Isle of Wight on July 18, 1635. He died in London on March 3, 1703. During his life he contributed a great deal to the land of science, contrary to what was expected of him at an early age. As a child, Robert Hooke was always in poor health. It was never expected that he would live retiring(a) his childhood. He had frequent headaches which made studying for school very difficult. His parents decided to quit pursuing an education for their son, and Hooke was left to learn on his receive accord. He became fascinated by mechanical objects such as toys and clocks. He also developed a talent for drawing. Hooke did survive to see adulthood, and superannuated age. In his 68 years he held many positions in antithetical fields. * Apprentice to Peter Lely, a portrait painter of the time * prof of geometry at Gresham College in London * Assistant to Robert Boyle * London City Surveyor * conservator of experiments for the Royal Society of London * Lecturer on mechanics * secretary of the Royal Society of London Robert Hooke invented many instruments for variable purposes. The following is a limited list of his many inventions. * modern air pump * wheel, double, & nautical barometers * anchor escapement of clocks * spring control of the balance wheel in watches * arithmetic machine * 1st Gregorian background * compound microscope * reflecting telescope * diving engine * spiral gear * universal (Hookes) joint * fleur-de-lis diaphragm * lens grinding machine * conical pendulum * springy send * horizontal sail for windmills * applied telescopic sights to surveying instruments * air gun for hire Robert Hookes first publication was in 1661, on the subject of capillary action.