Which 17th century English physicist and mathematician is said to have discovered the principle of gravity?

The scientific understanding of why objects fall to Earth and why planets orbit the sun is largely attributed to the revolutionary work of a prominent 17th-century English polymath. While the concept of attraction between masses might have been pondered before, it was this individual who provided the mathematical framework and universal law to describe it. He famously developed a comprehensive theory that explained both terrestrial and celestial mechanics under a single principle.

This groundbreaking insight often brings to mind the popular anecdote of an apple falling from a tree, supposedly sparking his contemplation on the forces at play. Whether literal or apocryphal, the story encapsulates a moment of profound realization that led to his formulation of the law of universal gravitation. He didn't just observe; he quantified this force, stating that every particle attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

His monumental work, "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), published in 1687, laid the foundation (Review) for classical mechanics and dominated scientific thought for over two centuries. Beyond gravity, his contributions extended to the invention of calculus, advancements in optics, and the laws of motion. His rigorous methodology and the predictive power of his theories cemented his legacy as one of history's most influential scientists, forever linking his name with the fundamental force that shapes our universe.