[TheOtherHobbes]

In fact he became President of the Royal Society and Master of the Royal Mint.

He rescued the Royal Society from bankrupcty and also worked with the best equipment makers of the day to improve experimental science.

At the Mint he was responsible for the gold content of the coinage and using science and design to limit counterfeits.

There was quite a bit more than "studying alchemy and the bible" because "no one would work with him."