1. Catherine Barton was an English woman who oversaw the running of the household of her uncle, scientist Isaac Newton.
12 Facts About Catherine Barton
1. 2.
Catherine Barton was reputed to be the source of the story of the apple inspiring Newton's work on gravity, and his papers came to her on his death.
3.
Catherine Barton was rumoured to have been the mistress of the poet and statesman Charles Montagu and later married politician John Conduitt.
4.
Catherine Barton was remarked upon by several men to be beautiful, witty and clever.
5.
Catherine Barton was known as a brilliant conversationalist, and attracted the admiration of such famous figures as Jonathan Swift and Voltaire.
6.
Catherine Barton was said to have been the source of the story about Newton and the apple, as she told the story to Voltaire who later wrote about it in his Essay on Epic Poetry of 1727.
7.
Voltaire insinuated that Newton's preferment to the Royal Mint was the result of Catherine Barton's alleged affair with Charles Montagu.
8.
However, although it is true that Isaac was appointed under the patronage of Charles Montagu, the claim that this was due to Barton's influence is dubious: Catherine Barton came up to London and met Montagu after the appointment, not before.
9.
Catherine Barton became the housekeeper to Charles Montagu following the death of his wife in 1698.
10.
Catherine Barton then returned to live with her uncle at his home in St Martin's Street.
11.
Catherine Barton took in Newton towards the end of his life, and he resided with her until his death in 1727.
12.
Catherine Barton has a role in Philip Kerr's novel Dark Matter: The Private Life of Sir Isaac Newton.