December 1817, a group of poets met in London in the studio of the painter Benjamin Haydon, who recorded in his diary how Wordsworth abused him for putting Newton’s head into one of his paintings. ‘A fellow’, Wordsworth declared, ‘who believed nothing unless it was as clear as the three sides of a triangle.’ Keats, who was present, agreed and they all drank ‘Newton’s health, and confusion to ma...