text: Later in life, Newton served as the Master of the Royal Mint and president of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is the oldest scientific organization still in existence, formed in 1660. Newton's ideas about the scientific and mathematical formulation of the universe were largely the basis of the Enlightenment. However, Newton also had great interest in both the Bible and alchemy, spending many years secretly studying the subject. Following his 1727 death, it was discovered that Newton had mercury poisoning, which may explain his later eccentricities.
  Philosophers of the Enlightenment research papers examine the philosophers of the 17th and 18th century in Europe and America.