this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2024
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Summary

A new book, Ricardo’s Dream by Nat Dyer, reveals that Sir Isaac Newton’s wealth was closely tied to the transatlantic slave trade during his tenure as master of the mint at the Bank of England.

Newton profited from gold mined by enslaved Africans in Brazil, much of which was converted into British currency under his oversight, earning him a fee for each coin minted.

While Newton’s scientific legacy remains untarnished, the book highlights his financial entanglement with slavery, a common thread among Britain’s banking and finance elites of the era.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

People don't just see Issac Newton as an important scientific contributor. They idolize him. Same for people like Thomas Jefferson. Appreciating history means understanding the full range of the people involved. When things like this are downplayed, it gives in to a narrative of history that supports terrible policies today.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

I don't think anyone is idolizing him because of slavery.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago

I suspect most people would be hard pressed to name anything about him other than gravity.