The scientist associated with the law of universal gravitation is Sir Isaac Newton. He formulated this fundamental principle in the late 17th century, explaining that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe. The law is integral to understanding how celestial bodies, such as planets and moons, interact with each other through gravitational forces. Newton's work laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and revolutionized the field of physics. His influential texts, including "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" (often referred to as the Principia), presented his ideas and theories that continue to inform scientific thought.