Il a Osé Défier Isaac Newton en Duel (il est mort pendu)

This video explores a little-known aspect of Isaac Newton's life: his intense and methodical pursuit of William Chaloner, a master counterfeiter, in the late 17th century. Far from the image of a serene scholar, Newton, then Warden of the Royal Mint, dedicated years to dismantling Chaloner's criminal empire, employing tactics that mirrored the precision of his scientific endeavors. The narrative begins by setting the scene of England in the 1690s, a nation teetering on the brink of economic collapse. This dire situation was exacerbated by two major monetary crises: "clipping" and "exportation." Clipping involved the widespread practice of shaving slivers of silver from the edges of coins, significantly reducing their intrinsic value. Simultaneously, the silver content of newly minted coins was often worth more on the continent than their face value in England, leading to a mass exodus of good money. Compounding these issues, a significant percentage of circulating currency was counterfeit. This economic turmoil crippled the government, preventing it from even paying its soldiers during wartime. In response, Parliament initiated a grand recoinage, a monumental undertaking to recall all old coins, melt them down, and issue new, machine-made currency with tamper-proof serrated edges. The Royal Mint, located in the Tower of London, was in dire need of effective leadership. The position of Warden, responsible for the royal currency, was offered to Isaac Newton. While intended as a comfortable sinecure, Newton approached the role with his characteristic intensity. He descended into the corrupt and inefficient Mint, transforming its operations through rigorous scientific application. He meticulously analyzed every aspect of coin production, from furnace thermodynamics to worker fatigue, drastically increasing output and efficiency. Within three years, the value of minted silver soared, far surpassing previous decades. However, Newton's involvement in combating counterfeiting became deeply personal. This is where his secret life as an alchemist, a pursuit he engaged in for decades, becomes crucial. Newton was driven by a quest to transmute base metals into gold, a pursuit he viewed as almost sacred. He saw Chaloner's counterfeiting as a perversion of this ideal – a cynical act of transforming base materials into false wealth to deceive the public. This perceived insult to his alchemical endeavors, coupled with the public humiliation Chaloner inflicted upon him by accusing the Mint of incompetence and even fraud, ignited Newton's obsessive drive for retribution. William Chaloner, born into poverty, was a cunning and highly adaptable criminal. He began by selling fake watches containing erotic items, then posed as a doctor selling fake cures. His true talent, however, lay in his profound understanding of human psychology and his ability to manipulate people. He transitioned into counterfeiting gold coins, particularly French Guineas and Pistoles, with such artistry that he was considered the most accomplished counterfeiter of his time. Chaloner amassed significant wealth, living a life of luxury and associating with politicians. He further demonstrated his ruthlessness by orchestrating the denunciation of printers he had hired to publish seditious material, collecting a reward while betraying his accomplices. His ambition escalated to targeting the Bank of England itself, producing counterfeit banknotes. Chaloner's fatal error was his insatiable ego and his desire for public recognition. He began publishing pamphlets accusing the Royal Mint and, by extension, Newton, of being responsible for the monetary chaos. In an audacious move, he proposed to Parliament that he be entrusted with improving the minting process, even gaining access to the Tower of London facilities. This public challenge and accusation of incompetence and potential fraud deeply offended Newton, transforming the situation into a personal vendetta. Newton, realizing that traditional bureaucratic methods would fail against Chaloner's rhetorical prowess and political connections, abandoned his ivory tower. He initiated a comprehensive investigation, building a clandestine network of informants in London's slums. He frequented disreputable taverns, bribed criminals, and even disguised himself to gather intelligence. Applying his scientific rigor to criminal profiling, he meticulously mapped Chaloner's network, cross-referenced alibis, and gathered vast amounts of evidence. He personally conducted over a hundred interrogations and amassed more than 140 depositions, creating an unprecedented body of documentation for a criminal investigation. Chaloner's final crime was the counterfeiting of Malta lottery tickets, a hybrid financial instrument. However, Newton had anticipated his moves. Chaloner was arrested in October 1698, and this time, Newton had secured overwhelming evidence. Chaloner's arrogance led him to boast about his operations to fellow inmates, unaware that many were Newton's informants. The trial in March 1699 was swift and decisive. Judge Lovel, known for his severity, presided. Without the right to legal counsel and with no presumption of innocence, Chaloner relied on his rhetoric. However, Newton presented a case built on irrefutable facts and meticulously gathered evidence. He presented eight witnesses who detailed Chaloner's entire criminal career, effectively dismantling any defense. The sheer volume of factual evidence left the jury with no choice but to find Chaloner guilty of high treason. In his prison cell, Chaloner's arrogance crumbled. He wrote desperate letters to Newton, oscillating between threats, insults, and pleas for mercy. His final letter implored Newton's intervention, acknowledging that only God could save him. Newton, his objective achieved, did not reply. On March 22, 1699, William Chaloner was executed by hanging. Even in his final moments, he proclaimed his innocence, shouting "murdered under the pretext of the law." The story of Newton and Chaloner serves as a powerful lesson on the limitations of manipulation and the enduring strength of evidence. Newton's success underscored that while smooth talk and audacity can achieve short-term gains, they are ultimately no match for material proof. The video concludes by reflecting on the thin line between absolute rationality and cruelty, questioning at what point a quest for justice necessitates functioning as a "merciless machine." Ironically, Thomas Neil, the Master of the Mint, died shortly after Chaloner's execution, and Newton was appointed to his position, holding it for 28 years and eventually becoming one of England's most influential figures, even having his portrait appear on currency.