Willem 's Gravesande

Willem Jacob 's Gravesande (1688 to 1742) was a Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, chiefly remembered for developing experimental demonstrations of the laws of classical mechanics and for the first experimental measurement of kinetic energy. Born in 's-Hertogenbosch, he studied law at Leiden University, took a doctorate in 1707 and practised in The Hague. In 1715 he visited London with a Dutch delegation, met Isaac Newton and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1717 he became professor of mathematics and astronomy at Leiden, later adding chairs of civil and military architecture in 1730 and of philosophy in 1734. He did much to introduce Newton's work to the Netherlands, and his Physices elementa mathematica of 1720 laid foundations for teaching Newtonian mechanics through experimental demonstrations. He declined offers from Peter the Great in 1724 and Frederick the Great in 1737 and stayed in Leiden.