Robert Hooke
Philosopher
British philosopher and scientist whose observations through the microscope changed the fundamental assumptions of science.
He was fascinated with the inner workings of mechanisms early in his childhood, and he took apart a clock and made a functional wooden replica.
He became very guarded about his work and remained obscure after his death.
His father and both of his uncles were Anglican ministers.
He proposed the mathematical formula for the strength of gravity before Isaac Newton actually worked it out on paper.