Sir Isaac Newton, an English mathematician and physicist, helped establish the principles of modern physics and was a leading figure in the Scientific Revolution. His groundbreaking work, particularly in his book "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica," laid the foundations for classical mechanics and revealed the laws of motion and universal gravitation. Newton's approach to scientific inquiry, emphasizing empirical evidence and mathematical reasoning, significantly transformed physics and natural philosophy. His contributions helped usher in the Enlightenment, influencing generations of scientists and shaping the modern scientific method.