Richard S. Westfall
Richard S. Westfall | |
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| Born | April 22, 1924 |
| Died | August 21, 1996 (aged 72) |
| Occupation(s) | Historian of science and biographer |
| Known for | Never at Rest; The Life of Isaac Newton |
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| Academic background | |
| Education | Yale University (BA 1948; MA 1949; PhD 1955) |
| Thesis | Science and Religion in Seventeenth Century England |
| Doctoral advisor | Franklin Baumer |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Historian of science |
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Richard S. Westfall (April 22, 1924 – August 21, 1996) was an American biographer and historian of science. He is best known for his biography of Isaac Newton, Never at Rest, and his work on the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. He taught as Distinguished Professor at Indiana University, served as a president of the History of Science Society, and won the 1985 George Sarton Medal for lifetime achievement in the history of science after winning the 1982 Leo Gershoy Award and 1983 Pfizer Award for Never at Rest.