Did Sir Isaac Newton think he was about to discover a weather gauge to foretell rain? The ram had the answer.
“SIR ISAAC NEWTON AND THE WEATHER GAUGE-The illustrious philosopher was once riding over Salisbury plain, when a boy keeping sheep called to him, “Sir, you had better make haste on, or you will get a wet jacket.” Newton, looking round and and observing neither clouds nor a speck on the horizon, jogged on, taking very little of the rustic’s information. He made but a few miles, when a storm suddenly arising, wetted him to the skin. Surprised at the circumstance, and determined, if possible, to ascertain how an ignorant boy had attained a precision and knowledge in the weather of which the wisest philosophers would be proud, he rode back, as wet as he was. “My lad,” said Newton, “I’ll give thee a guinea if thou wilt tell me how thou canst fortel the weather so truly.” “Will ye, Sir? I will then,” said the boy, scratching his head, and holding out his hand for the guinea. “Now Sir,” having received the money, and pointing to his sheep, “when you see that black ram turn his tail towards the wind, ’tis a sure sign of rain within an hour.” “What!” exclaimed the philosopher, “must I, in order to fortel the weather, stay here and watch which way that black ram turns his tail?” “Yes, Sir.” Off rode Newton, quite satisfied with his discovery, but not much inclined to avail himself of it, or to recommend it to others.”
The Stamford Mercury, 17 October 1828