Famous Figures: Newton, Twain, Chanel

Study Notes

Isaac Newton

Born in 1642 in Lincolnshire, England
Father was a farmer who died before he was born
Mother was a clever woman he loved
Studied mathematics at Cambridge University
Made three great discoveries during 18 months at home due to the plague: differential calculus, the nature of white light, and the law of gravitation
Died at 84 and was buried in Westminster Abbey

Mark Twain

Born in 1835 in Missouri, USA
Family moved frequently, preventing him from finishing secondary school
Began working at age 12
Became a pilot on the Mississippi River in 1857
Wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in 1876
Achieved world fame for his novels about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

Coco Chanel

Born Gabrielle Chanel in 1883 in Saumur, France
Mother died when she was young, and she was raised in an orphanage
Worked as a cabaret singer, earning the nickname "Coco"
Opened her first fashion house in Paris in 1910
Created Chanel No. 5 perfume in 1921, one of the world's best-selling perfumes
Closed her fashion house during WWII, but reopened it in 1954
Died in 1971, considered one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century

Roald Dahl

Born in Llandaff, Wales, on September 13, 1916
Parents were Norwegian: Harald and Sofie Dahl
Had a challenging childhood; his father died when he was three
Joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII as a fighter pilot
Was shot down in the North African desert during a mission
Known for children's books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (1964) and "Matilda" (1988)
Died on November 23, 1990 at age 74

Description

Test your knowledge on the lives and contributions of three iconic figures: Isaac Newton, Mark Twain, and Coco Chanel. Explore their backgrounds, major achievements, and lasting impacts on science, literature, and fashion. Challenge yourself with interesting facts and insights about their legacies.