Newton and the Counterfeiter
We all know Sir Isaac Newton for his titanic scientific achievements. He did groundbreaking work in the fields of gravity, the laws of motion, calculus, optics and alchemy. But he had another career that few people are aware of. In 1696 he left the University of Cambridge (where he had worked for thirty years) and went to London to work as Warden (and later Master) of His Majesty's Mint. This story is told in a new book by Thomas Levenson which is entitled Newton and the Counterfeiter... When he took up this position England's currency was in the midst of a severe crisis. Silver was flowing out of England to the European continent. This had an almost catastrophic effect on the English currency which was based on silver coinage. Newton had to evolve a plan to rescue the English economy. He also locked horns with a master counterfeiter, William Chaloner, who forged bank notes, bonds, personal checks, and clipped silver coins. Newton corresponded with and pursued Chaloner (and other currency criminals) and his work led to the imprisonment and execution of Chaloner. Newton added to his already formidable scientific achievements a record of solid accomplishments in transforming the British economy.