Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who lived from 1643 to 1727. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history, and his work on optics, mechanics, and mathematics laid the foundation for modern physics. Newton was born in Lincolnshire, England, and studied at Cambridge University. He made many important discoveries during his time at Cambridge, including his work on the laws of motion and the development of calculus. One of Newton's most significant contributions to science was his work on optics, which he explored in detail in his book "Opticks." He was the first to demonstrate that white light could be separated into a spectrum of colors using a prism, and he developed a theory of color that remains a cornerstone of modern physics.