Sir Isaac Newton is the famous physicist known for formulating the law of universal gravitation. His groundbreaking work in the 17th century laid the foundation for classical mechanics and significantly advanced the understanding of gravity and motion. In his seminal work, "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (often referred to as the Principia), Newton introduced the concept that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe. This law not only explained the orbits of celestial bodies but also had a profound influence on the subsequent development of physics, establishing principles that remain relevant to this day.