HOOKE, ROBERT English experimental phy sicist, was born July 18, 1635, at Freshwater, Isle of Wight. After 1655 he was employed by the Hon. Robert Boyle, who used his skill in the construction of his air-pump. On Nov. 12, 1662 he was appointed curator of experiments to the Royal Society, of which he was elected a fellow in 1663, and filled the office during the remainder of his life. In 1665 he was appointed professor of geometry in Gresham college. He was secretary to the Royal Society between 1677 and 1683, publishing in 1681-82 the papers read before that body under the title of Philosophical Collections. He died on Mar. 3, 1703, in London.
Hooke's scientific achievements would probably have been more striking if they had been less varied. He originated much, but perfected little. His optical investigations led him to adopt in an imperfect form the undulatory theory of light. He was the first to state clearly that the motions of the heavenly bodies must be regarded as a mechanical problem, and he approached in a re markable manner the discovery of universal gravitation. He in vented the wheel barometer, discussed the application of barometrical indications to meteorological forecasting, and origi nated the idea of using the pendulum as a measure of gravity. He is credited with the invention of the anchor escapement for clocks, and the application of spiral springs to the balances of watches (1676). Hooke had an irritable temper, his habits were penurious and solitary. He made virulent attacks on Newton and other men of science claiming that work published by them was due to him.
His principal writings are Micrographia (1664) ; Lectiones Cutler ianae ; and Posthumous Works, containing a sketch of his "Philosophical Algebra," published by R. Waller in 1705.