Isaac Newton, born on December 25, 1642, in England, was a prominent physicist and mathematician who played a key role in the scientific revolution. Raised in a family of farmers, he attended Trinity College and made significant contributions, including the invention of reflecting telescopes, anti-counterfeiting measures for coins, and the development of calculus. His major works include 'Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy' and 'Opticks', which laid the foundation for modern physics and mathematics.