Isaac Newton’s Beer Mug to Be Displayed for the First Time in 160 Years

For the first time in 160 years, one of Isaac Newton’s most intriguing personal belongings—a wooden beer mug—is set to go on public display. The mug will be exhibited at the Royal Society in London starting March 4, alongside other significant artifacts, including Newton’s death mask and his groundbreaking work, the Principia.

The discovery and exhibition are the result of two decades of research by scientist Carmichael Wallace and historian Stephen Snobelen, who traced the mug’s history through letters, family records, and even poetry. Their findings suggest that while Newton rarely drank beer, he likely used it in scientific experiments and even in his homemade ink for writing the Principia.

The History Behind Newton’s Mug

Newton gifted the wooden flagon, a traditional beer-drinking vessel, to his longtime roommate and laboratory assistant, John Wickins. The mug was later found among Newton’s possessions at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Research reveals that Newton conducted fermentation studies and referenced beer, cider, and wine in various documents, including household inventories and letters to his scientific peers. He also wrote two ink recipes, both believed to be made with beer-based ink, still visible in his notebooks today.

A Symbol of Newton’s Legacy

The Wickins family treated the mug as a sacred relic, preserving it for generations before it was last exhibited in 1865. Historians believe Newton’s connection to the mug sheds new light on his scientific methods and everyday life.

Keith Moore, head of library and archives at the Royal Society, commented on the exhibition:
“A beery vision of Sir Isaac Newton is certainly a new one for us. While he was known to be sociable, I doubt he drank much from this flagon while brewing his revolutionary ideas—Newton, as a scientist, was no mug.”

Newton, who became a Royal Society fellow in 1672 and later served as its president from 1703 until his death in 1727, remains one of history’s most revered scientists. Now, his beer mug offers a fascinating glimpse into his lesser-known habits and the role of beer in 17th-century science.