This is pretty cool. Reuters is reporting that the journal of 17th century scientist Robert Hooke has been discovered after having been lost for 200 years.
Hailed as “science’s missing link”, the journal of Robert Hooke contains details of experiments he conducted as curator at the Royal Society from 1662 and his correspondence as its secretary from 1677.
It was found by chance in a cupboard at a private house in Hampshire by experts from auctioneer Bonhams conducting a routine valuation.
The notes include a celebrated row between Hooke and Isaac Newton over planetary motion and gravity, and the lost record confirming the first observation of microbes by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek.
He was one of the leaders of the scientific revolution that took place in the 17th century. He contributed greatly to the development of accurate watches and more powerful microscopes and telescopes. He made advances in astronomy and biology. In addition, he was one of the men most responsible for rebuilding London, along with Christopher Wren, after the Great Fire in 1666.
I’m a little embarassed to admit that my knowledge of Hooke comes chiefly from his appearance as a fictional character in Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle. So, the accuracy of my knowledge depends on how many historial liberties were taken by Mr. Stephenson. In any event, we are all indebted to Hooke for his discoveries, and I think it’s pretty cool that his journal has been rediscovered.
Doug: I believe you mean 200 years, not just 20 years.
Yup, 200. Thanks — I’ve made the correction.