Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.4850
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Lock of hair
Date
19th century
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
length: 120mm
depth: 80mm
height: 50mm
depth: 80mm
height: 50mm
Content object
Description
A lock of Isaac Newton's hair, on a black silken cushion in a mahogany presentation box.
Plaque on lid of presentation box engraved: 'Lock of Sir Isaac Newton's hair presented by Henry Garling esq. Oct 26 1847'.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) British natural philosopher and mathematician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1672 and served as President from 1703 to 1727.
Plaque on lid of presentation box engraved: 'Lock of Sir Isaac Newton's hair presented by Henry Garling esq. Oct 26 1847'.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) British natural philosopher and mathematician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1672 and served as President from 1703 to 1727.
Object history
Presented by Henry Garling in 1847.
In a letter to the Royal Society, 1847, Garling writes: 'I am in possession of a very small lock of silver-white hair, which is wrapp'd in a paper marked 'Sir I. Newton' [...] the family of Sir Isaac Newton were connected by marriage with the family of Barton, and these latter with the Burrs, who are my relation on the maternal side, and through one of whom the article came into my possession.' (A History of the Royal Society, with Memoirs of the Presidents, vol 1, Charles Richard Weld).
In a letter to the Royal Society, 1847, Garling writes: 'I am in possession of a very small lock of silver-white hair, which is wrapp'd in a paper marked 'Sir I. Newton' [...] the family of Sir Isaac Newton were connected by marriage with the family of Barton, and these latter with the Burrs, who are my relation on the maternal side, and through one of whom the article came into my possession.' (A History of the Royal Society, with Memoirs of the Presidents, vol 1, Charles Richard Weld).
Associated place